Department for Transport

Communication

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Claire Perry: Communications expenditure may arise as part of a project or programme and corporate plans do not seek to allocate budgets to all communications activities specifically. Information available on communications expenditure is provided. The cost of communications which includes internal communications, website and other digital communications, strategic communications and planning, marketing and public information campaigns and partnerships, publishing, speechwriting, news media and press work and associated staff costs for the Department and its Executive Agencies for the financial year 2013/14 is, on a like for like basis, 75% less than the £63.1m recorded for 2009/10.   Cost of Communications 1  (£m)2010/112011/122012/132013/14Department for Transport (Central)9.5310.058.029.03Driving Standards Agency 20.680.430.820.65Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency4.001.201.651.67Government Car and Despatch Agency 3NilNilNil-Highways Agency5.144.323.293.22Maritime and Coastguard Agency0.710.630.680.68Vehicle Certification Agency0.090.020.04n/aVehicle and Operator Services Agency 20.350.340.430.40Total20.5016.9914.9415.65 1. Statutory public notice advertising and classified advertising such as recruitment advertising are not included in the communications function expenditure above.2. The Driving Standards Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency became the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in April 2014.3. The Government Car and Despatch Agency ceased on 30 September 2012. Estimates for 2010/11 and 2011/12 were compiled for inclusion in Quarterly Data Summaries published by the Department and the 2012/13 and 2013/14 estimates were prepared using definitions from the Operational Efficiency Programme.

Advertising

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what his Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Claire Perry: Advertising expenditure may arise as part of a project or programme and corporate plans do not seek to allocate budgets to advertising specifically. Information available on advertising media expenditure is provided. Expenditure on advertising media by the Department and its Executive Agencies for the financial year 2013/14 is 81% less than the £28.16m recorded for 2009/10. The central Department’s non-statutory advertising media expenditure is almost exclusively in support of THINK! Road Safety campaigns.Advertising media expenditure (£)2010/112011/122012/132013/14Department for Transport (Central)- non-statutory public notice advertising.566,9272,623,6431,941,6751,766,048Department for Transport (Central)- statutory public notice advertising18,651495,709398,0751,994,746Driving Standards Agency 1NilNil60NilDriver and Vehicle Licensing AgencyNilNilNilNilGovernment Car and Despatch Agency2NilNilNilNilHighways Agency –non-statutory public notice advertising.83,390NilNilNilHighways Agency –statutory public notice advertising.1,904,1631,253,7011,310,8671,486,541Maritime and Coastguard Agency370Nil13,2601,692Vehicle Certification AgencyNilNilNilNilVehicle and Operator Services Agency 1NilNilNilNilTotal2,573,5014,373,0533,663,9375,249,027 1. The Driving Standards Agency and Vehicle and Operator Services Agency became the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency in April 2014.2. The Government Car and Despatch Agency ceased on 30 September 2012.

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many staff in his Department have been employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Claire Perry: The table below provides the number of temporary staff the Department of Transport and its agencies have employed through employment or recruitment agencies since 2010. The figures include new contracts sourced via the Crown Commercial Services Framework and the Contingent LabourOne Framework. The figures represent temporary workers only, as The Department does not use employment agencies or recruitment agencies to recruit permanent staff. Total DfT New Contracts AwardedFinancial YearContracts Awarded2010-2011No Data2011-12672012-131952013-143282014-15490Grand Total1080

Driving Tests

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test centres have been (a) closed, (b) opened, (c) reopened having been previously closed in each (i) Scottish and (ii) English local authority area in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many driving test centres have (a) closed and (b) opened; and how many formerly closed centres reopened in (i) the UK, (ii) Scotland, (iii) England, (iv) Wales and (v) Northern Ireland in each of the last five years up to the most recent period for which records are available.

Claire Perry: The number of driving test centres that have closed in each of the last five years in England, Scotland and Wales is: 2010/11 – 292011/12 – 112012/13 – 132013/14 – 32014/15 – 4 The number of driving test centres that have opened in each of the last five years in England, Scotland and Wales is: 2010/11 – 142011/12 – 72012/13 – 142013/14 – 82014/15 – 0 The number of driving test centres that have closed in Scotland is: 2010/11 – 52011/12 – 22012/13 – 52013/14 – 12014/15 – 1 The number of driving test centres that have opened in Scotland is: 2010/11 – 32011/12 – 32012/13 – 32013/14 – 12014/15 – 0The number of driving test centres that have closed in England is: 2010/11 – 222011/12 – 92012/13 – 72013/14 – 12014/15 – 3 The number of driving test centres that have opened in England is: 2010/11 – 92011/12 – 32012/13 – 102013/14 – 72014/15 – 0 The number of driving test centres that have closed in Wales is: 2010/11 – 22011/12 – 02012/13 – 12013/14 – 12014/15 – 0 The number of driving test centres that have opened in Wales is: 2010/11 – 22011/12 – 12012/13 – 12013/14 – 02014/15 – 0 No driving test centres were reopened at the same property. Changes have occurred in the number of driving test centres since 2010/11 as a result of the Multi-Purpose Test Centre (MPTC) investment programme.

Railways: North West

Lilian Greenwood: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, on what date he plans for electric rail passenger services to start operating between (a) Manchester and Liverpool and (b) Liverpool and Wigan.

Claire Perry: As part of this Government’s commitment to the over £1billion Northern Hub upgrade and North of England electrification programme, Network Rail is working to complete the installation of the overhead wires on the Chat Moss routes via Newton-le-Willows through February. We expect electric trains to enter passenger service on the Chat Moss route between Liverpool and Manchester once Network Rail has completed this work and the Office of Rail Regulation has authorised its use for passenger trains. Electric trains are expected to enter service between Liverpool and Wigan from May.

Aviation: Passengers

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers flew from (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Stansted, (d) Liverpool and (e) Manchester airports in each year from 1985.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The attached table shows the number of passengers that flew from (a) Heathrow, (b) Gatwick, (c) Stansted, (d) Liverpool and (e) Manchester airports in each year from 1990 to 2013. These figures are based on data provided to the Department for Transport by the Civil Aviation Authority. DfT do not hold data prior to 1990.  Table 1: Number of passengers departing, by airport (Thousands)Year(a)Heathrow(b) Gatwick(c) Stansted(d) Liverpool(e) Manchester199021,31710,5015782345,078199120,1519,3608422255,061199222,5009,9381,1602215,835199323,83310,0211,3302296,413199425,69010,5131,6152187,150199527,09411,1751,9322487,250199627,87612,0262,3903067,228199728,89213,3872,6703397,847199830,14214,4923,4294328,592199930,93815,1594,7246538,689200032,11315,9645,9559959,167200130,14615,5116,8501,1329,522200231,41714,7258,0241,4239,293200331,51914,9399,3661,5919,755200433,48015,68110,4531,67910,481200533,76516,32711,0072,19811,027200633,57917,03111,8112,47811,043200733,80317,59911,8322,73110,922200833,37017,07611,1082,66410,499200932,84116,1569,9112,4379,282201032,73815,7119,2012,5078,817201134,53416,8568,9582,6169,381201234,78317,1898,6802,2239,805201335,89117,7728,8862,08810,308Source: Civil Aviation Authority

Hull-Holyhead Railway Line: Electrification

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what funding has been allocated to the electrification of the Hull-Holyhead railway line.

Claire Perry: The route from Hull to Holyhead comprises several elements. Funding has been allocated to continue feasibility studies for electrification between Hull and Selby. Delivery funding has been allocated for the electrification of the route from Selby to Manchester via Leeds and that from Manchester to Warrington via Eccles. The case for electrifying the route from Warrington to Holyhead is being considered by Network Rail in its updated electrification strategy.

Freight: Carbon Emissions

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average amount of carbon emitted by (a) road and (b) rail freight was in each year for which data is available.

Claire Perry: The estimated amount of greenhouse gas emissions from road freight and rail freight is given in the Table below. Data are provided in million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalents for every year from 1990.   Table: Greenhouse gas emissions from Road and Rail freight. Million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent Road FreightRail Freight199027.320.50199126.340.54199226.770.56199327.300.50199428.740.47199528.160.48199629.260.54199729.510.60199828.870.58199927.870.54200027.010.54200126.870.58200227.580.53200327.800.54200428.130.58200528.980.60200629.570.59200731.720.60200827.950.57200926.990.55201028.780.56201128.720.62201229.671.62Source: DECC/National Atmospheric Emissions Inventory

West Coast Railway Line

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the average duration of an intercity rail journey between (a) Holyhead and London and (b) Chester and London was in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

Claire Perry: This is not information the Department collates. Therefore we have no such data for any year.

Roads: Freight

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the amount was of road freight from (a) Ireland to the UK and (b) the UK to Ireland in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

Claire Perry: The amount of goods lifted and moved from (a) Ireland to the UK and (b) the UK to Ireland are provided within the attached table for years 2000 to 2010. Data prior to 2000 are not available. Data for 2011, 2012 and 2013 are scheduled to be published by the end of February 2015. 



222615 - Table  - Freight movements
(PDF Document, 83.53 KB)

Railways: Wales

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many rail passengers were carried between North Wales and London in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport holds this information for the past 10 years. However it is held on a commercially confidential basis so cannot be released. The regional usage statistics published by the Office of Rail Regulation, which provide estimates of rail travel between Wales as a whole and London may be of interest. These can be found at the following link:http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/statistical-releases

Driving Tests: Airdrie

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, whether his Department plans to close the Airdrie Driving Test Centre.

Claire Perry: The lease interest in Airdrie Driving test centre is currently being renewed.

Transport: Republic of Ireland

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, how many passengers  travelled by (a) road and (b) rail from (i) UK to Ireland and (ii) Ireland to the UK in each year from 1985 for which data is available.

Claire Perry: The Department for Transport does not hold information on the number of road and rail journeys made between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. The collection of statistics on road and rail travel in Northern Ireland is devolved and is a matter for the Department for Regional Development in Northern Ireland, which may hold this information. The Department for Transport has access to information from the last ten years on the number of rail tickets bought to and from stations in Great Britain that include a ferry between Great Britain and the Republic of Ireland. However, this information is considered commercially confidential and so cannot be released.

Thameslink Railway Line

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what the cost was of the St John's Thameslink scheme; what that scheme was designed to achieve; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Thameslink Programme works near St John’s Station installed a second track to increase capacity on the Tanner’s Hill route that enables trains from Lewisham to join the lines to Charing Cross without conflicting with trains on the main line from Kent. This means that Charing Cross trains can approach London Bridge on the right lines to arrive at the Charing Cross platforms without conflicting with Thameslink trains from Sussex. This improves the resilience of both services. Construction of the additional track cost £13.1m.

Thameslink Railway Line

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if Thameslink trains will use the new rail lines at St John's following the completion of the scheme; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: Thameslink trains will not be operating on routes via Lewisham hence they will not use the new rail lines installed at Tanner’s Hill near St John’s station. However, existing Southeastern services on routes from Lewisham to Charing Cross are, and will continue to use, this new infrastructure.

Southeastern

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221618, on what date the 12-carriage peak-time services listed will begin to operate; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: These services started on 12 January.

Thameslink

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221670, how many eight-carriage fixed-set Thameslink trains will be purchased for the Wimbledon link to replace the 12-carriage trains in the original plans; what the savings will be arising from that purchase; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Invitation to Tender for the Thameslink Rolling Stock Project, issued in 2008, included the requirement for the train manufacturer and maintainer to build sufficient 8-car trains to replace those being operated by the Thameslink operator on Wimbledon services. As a result, there is no requirement to purchase additional trains for Wimbledon services. The decision to continue Wimbledon services through the core had no impact on the rolling stock procurement.

Thameslink

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, pursuant to the Answer of 26 January 2015 to Question 221654, if he will place in the Library a map showing the points along the rail lines where Thameslink services would interfere with the timetable for Cannon Street services; and if he will make a statement.

Claire Perry: The Thameslink Programme works on the approaches to London Bridge and at the station itself are designed to segregate Charing Cross, Thameslink and Cannon Street services. This will improve service reliability and increase capacity on this part of the network, allowing the more intensive Thameslink service to operate. Capacity constraints on other parts of the network, particularly at Lewisham mean that if Thameslink services were to operate from Lewisham they would have to replace other services at Lewisham. They would not be additional services. The track layout at Lewisham means that it is likely that the number of Cannon Street services would be reduced rather than Charing Cross services.

Railways: Franchises

John McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, if he will place in the Library an updated copy of the franchise payment profile for all train operating companies until 2023.

Claire Perry: The Secretary of State for Transport will endeavour to place an updated copy of the contracted franchise payment profiles for all train operating companies until 2023 (as they exist) in the Libraries of both Houses within three weeks from today. This time is required as the schedule is being updated to reflect the major changes to the payment profiles as a result of CP5 and changes to fares policy.

Roads: Accidents

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on the number of accidents of road speed limits in built up areas.

Mr Robert Goodwill: Authorities have been introducing more 20 mph limit and zone schemes across the country, including some which cover very large areas (such as Portsmouth). As the number of zones increase we would expect the number of accidents on 20 mph-limited roads to increase, simply as a consequence of the zones becoming more prevalent. This is not an indication that the 20 mph-limited roads are becoming more dangerous, but rather a reallocation of accidents from 30 mph-limited roads to 20 mph-limited roads. Atkins, and AECOM and Professor Mike Maher from UCL, have been commissioned to carry out research into the effectiveness of 20mph limits. The study will cover many aspects including effects on speed, collisions, casualties and modal shift. The research will also consider best practice, road users’ perceptions and effects on the quality of the environment. The attached tables show the reported accidents by speed limit, road class and severity in GB for 2010 to 2013. 



222691 - reported road accidents
(Excel SpreadSheet, 68 KB)

Walking and Cycling: Wales

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what recent assessment his Department has made of the effect on walking and cycling rates of the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013; and what plans he has to bring forward legislative proposals similar to that Act.

Mr Robert Goodwill: The Department for Transport has been in regular discussion with the Welsh Government in relation to the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 throughout its development and implementation. The Department is aware the Act is in the early stage of implementation with Design Guidance being published late last year. The Department will continue to liaise with the Welsh Government on the impact of the Act in Wales, however will not make its own assessment on the effect of the Act on walking and cycling rates because the Act applies to Wales, and the jurisdiction of the Department for Transport in relation to cycling and walking applies to England.

Thameslink Railway Line

Clive Efford: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport, what plans he has to continue with Victoria services via Lewisham following the completion of the Thameslink scheme at London Bridge.

Claire Perry: Southeastern’s current franchise contains provisions to operate services to Victoria, via Lewisham. The franchise is due to end in June 2018 and any changes to the service specification that may be proposed under the next franchise will be subject to public consultation, alongside a range of other franchise issues.

Home Office

Islamic State

Mr Charles Walker: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what information her Department holds on (a) academic and (b) other research conducted in (i) the UK and (ii) other European countries that establishes a link between the funding of ISIL and the trade in contraband (A) cigarettes and (B) other goods.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office does not hold academic or other research of this sort.A number of departments are involved in the Government’s efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL and experts from across government have spent considerable time analysing ISIL’s funding flows. Based on the information available, we believe that a substantial share of ISIL’s revenue is derived from the sale of oil and commodities, taxation and extortion. It is likely that revenue generated from the smuggling of tobacco accounts for some of this, although the amount is believed to be relatively small as a share of ISIL’s total revenue.

Employment Agencies

Lucy Powell: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many recruitment and employment agencies her Department has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

Karen Bradley: The Home Department does not centrally hold details of recruitment and employment agencies who are engaged to source staff so this information could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Proceeds of Crime

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many British nationals were subject to (a) regulatory fines, (b) civil penalties or (c) criminal penalties because of their involvement with the proceeds of crime arising from international crude oil theft in each year for which records are available.

Karen Bradley: The Home Office does not hold this information. Involvement with the proceeds of crime arising from crude oil theft is not a separately identifiable offence. Furthermore, The Home Office only collects statistics on crimes committed in England and Wales, and not on international crime.

Radicalism

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what proactive programmes her Department has put in place to make contact with potential extremists since 26 November 2014.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Crime: Surrey

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, how many crimes in total have been recorded in (a) Elmbridge and (b) Surrey in each month since April 2014; and how many police officers were employed in these areas during those months.

Mike Penning: The Home Office does not publish crime statistics on a monthly level. The lowest level of detail available in the published figures is on a quarterly basis. These have been provided from April 2014 for Elmbridge and Surrey in the accompanying table. Caution should be taken when comparing quarterly periods due to the seasonal nature of the data.The Home Office collects police workforce statistics twice a year on a police force area basis. There were 1,938 full-time equivalent police officers employed by Surrey Police as at 31 March 2014 and 1,885 full-time equivalent police officers as at 30 September 2014. The Home Office does not collect these statistics for Elmbridge or any area below police force level.  Total number of police-recorded offences, quarterly from April 2014, by CSP and PFA.Quarter:Apr-Jun 2014July-Sep 2014 Elmbridge Community Safety Partnership1,2831,442 Surrey Police Force Area12,23713,011 1. Source: Police recorded crime data, published by the Office for National Statistics 2. Police recorded crime data are not designated as National Statistics.   3. Due to the seasonal nature of crime, care should be taken when comparing quarterly periods.

Radicalism

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, which Minister in her Department has lead responsibility for overseeing the changes to the Prevent programme announced in November 2014.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Counter-terrorism

Debbie Abrahams: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department, what training her Department plans to provide to (a) teachers and (b) headteachers to assist them to carry out the obligations placed on them by the provisions of the Counter-Terrorism and Security Bill.

James Brokenshire: The Home Office has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Palestinians

Mr Liam Byrne: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism in fulfilling its objectives to (a) enable the government of Palestine to lead the reconstruction efforts, (b) enable the Gazan private sector, (c) assure donors that their investments in construction work in Gaza will be implemented without delay and (d) address Israeli security concerns related to the use of construction and other dual use material.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: The Foreign and Commonwealth Office has not carried out a formal assessment of the effectiveness of the Gaza Reconstruction Mechanism (GRM), as GRM only began functioning in November 2014. However, the UN Special Coordinator for the Middle East Peace Process informed our Consul General in Jerusalem on 30 January that the GRM is working. 35,000 homeowners had now purchased cement, and another 20,000 were cleared to make purchases. The GRM however does not obviate the need for the Israeli authorities to lift the movement and access restrictions on Gaza. Donors to the GRM also need to fulfil the pledges made at the October 2014 Cairo Conference in order to ensure that people whose homes were damaged or destroyed will be able to procure materials to rebuild their homes, to fund much needed infrastructure projects and to address the urgent electricity and water needs for Gaza.The Department for International Development contributed £500,000 to the GRM, as part of our Cairo Conference pledge.

Ukraine

Mr John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, how much the Government plans to provide to Ukraine through the Conflict, Stability and Security Fund under each category of expenditure.

Mr David Lidington: The House will be informed of Conflict, Stability and Security Fund (CSSF) allocations for 2015/16 in due course, via a Written Ministerial Statement.This financial year, the CSSF’s precursor, the Conflict Pool, provided £9m in support to Ukraine on a range of programmes which included gifting non-lethal equipment to the Ukrainian Armed Forces, treating wounded Ukrainian servicemen, supporting the Organisation for Security and Co-oporation in Europe (OSCE) Special Monitoring Mission, building strategic communications capacity, as well as providing peace building activities.

Germany

Mark Pritchard: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, if he will make representations to his German counterpart on measures to stop the sale of stolen antiquities from Syria and Iraq in the German art and antiquities market.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: Preventing the sale of stolen antiquities from Syria and Iraq remains part of international efforts to defeat the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL). The Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), co-hosted, with US Secretary of State John Kerry, a meeting of 21 European and Middle East coalition countries in London on 22 January, including Germany. The meeting reviewed our efforts to degrade and defeat ISIL, not just through military force but by addressing the underlying factors such as financing. Agreement was reached by all present to further the work in countering all avenues of ISIL’s finances.

Bahrain

Katy Clark: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment he has made of the recent conviction of Nabeel Rajab in Bahrain.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We are following Mr Rajab’s case closely. Our Ambassador has raised the case with the Government of Bahrain and encouraged the Bahraini authorities to ensure due process is followed and international norms of justice are upheld. British embassy officials have attended Mr Rajab’s court appearances to underline the UK’s interest in the case.The UK government is supporting the government of Bahrain in its reform programme, including work to help Bahrain strengthen its human rights and justice sector. We are clear that more needs to be done and we raise these issues frequently and at senior levels.

Russia

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Muslims in Russia.

Mr David Lidington: The Russian constitution provides for freedom of religion. However, Muslims have reported persistent difficulties in obtaining permission to build additional mosques. In Kaliningrad, lawyers representing parts of the 100,000 strong Muslim population have indicated that they will now take their case to secure land for the construction of a mosque to the European Court of Human Rights. In 2014, there continued to be widespread reports of harassment of Muslims in Russia, especially in the North Caucasus. Russia’s anti-extremism laws have also been criticised by the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe for their potential to be arbitrarily used against minority religious groups.We have raised concerns about freedom of religion and belief in Russia through the EU. We will continue to monitor the impact of Russia’s use of “extremism” legislation on religious minorities.

Russia

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of LGBT people in Russia.

Mr David Lidington: We have strong concerns about Russia’s law banning the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relations among minors, particularly its potential to legitimise homophobia and encourage violence against LGBT people. In September 2014, Russia’s Constitutional Court ruled that this law was not in breach of the Russian constitution. In December 2014, Human Rights Watch released a report documenting an increase in violence and harassment against LGBT people in Russia since the law was introduced in June 2013. The report claimed that anti-LGBT groups had used the law to justify campaigns of harassment and intimidation, including campaigns to get LGBT teachers fired from their jobs.We have raised concerns about LGBT rights in Russia bilaterally at a number of levels, and through the EU, since the law banning the promotion of “non-traditional” sexual relations among minors was passed in June 2013. I raised concerns about the protection of LGBT people in Russia with the Russian Ambassador at our last meeting on 18 December.

China and North Korea

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of LGBT people in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: Homosexuality was decriminalised in China in 1997 and removed from the official list of mental disorders in 2001. However, as there are no specific anti-discrimination laws protecting LGB&T people, and LGB&T relationships are not covered by family law, LGB&T people are frequently subject to unequal treatment, harassment and intimidation. LGB&T civil society groups frequently encounter pressure from the authorities, including being detained or otherwise prevented from running LGB&T advocacy events. However, social attitudes in China are changing. The same-sex marriage of a British diplomat and his partner at the UK Ambassador’s residence in Beijing in September 2014 led to a lively but largely supportive debate on social media. Although there is no specific legislation outlawing homosexuality in North Korea, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea authorities deny that LGB&T persons exist and same sex relationships are considered unacceptable. There is consequently neither legal nor practical protection for LGB&T rights.

China and North Korea

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Christians in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: Although Protestantism and Catholicism are state-sanctioned religions, we are concerned that practitioners continue to face restrictions on their religious rights. We are aware of reports which state that churches have been demolished, forcibly closed, or had their crosses removed, including in Zhejiang Province. Practitioners of house churches also continue to face harassment. We raised our concerns in detail during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in May 2014, and continue to do so as part of our broader relationship. According to authorities in the DPRK, there are a small number of state-controlled churches and some other state-sanctioned places of worship, including 500 house churches. We are unable to verify these statistics or to attest to the type of activity that takes places inside these house churches. However, there are many reports that people who are involved in religion outside these state-controlled organisations have been imprisoned for practising their beliefs. We regularly raise with the DPRK authorities our concerns about all restrictions on freedom of religion or belief, including reports of persecution of Christians.

Russia

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Jewish people in Russia.

Mr David Lidington: The Russian constitution provides for freedom of religion and takes an official stand against antisemitism. In 2013, the Federation of Jewish Communities reported no official acts of antisemitism at the federal level. However, there have been reports of isolated cases of antisemitism by government officials, vandalism of Jewish facilities and the distribution of antsemitic literature. Annual nationalist “Russian Marches” have also included some anti-Semitic behaviour, such as the use of “banned symbols” by neo-Nazi groups.We have raised concerns about freedom of religion and belief in Russia through the EU. The UK Government is committed to combating antisemitism wherever it is found and supports the efforts of EU partners to tackle racism in all its forms.

China and North Korea

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Jewish people in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: Whilst freedom of religion is stipulated in Article 36 of the Chinese Constitution, only five religions (Buddhism, Taoism, Islam, Catholicism and Protestantism) are officially recognised. All legal religious observance must be organised by state-sanctioned religious associations, under the strict control of the State Administration for Religions Affairs. There are many reports that Chinese citizens who are involved in any religious activity outside state-sanctioned organisations have been imprisoned for practicing their beliefs. We regularly raise our concerns with the Chinese authorities. We are unaware of any reports of persecution of Jewish people. However, there are many reports that North Koreans who are involved in any religious activity outside state-controlled organisations have been imprisoned for practising their beliefs. We regularly raise our concerns with the DPRK authorities.

China and North Korea

Chris Evans: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what assessment his Department has made of the level of persecution of Muslims in (a) China and (b) North Korea.

Mr Hugo Swire: Although Islam is a state-sanctioned religion in China, Muslims continue to face restrictions on their religious rights, particularly in the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region. British officials conduct a rhythm of regular monitoring visits to this region, and have observed restrictions on the celebration of Ramadan, restricted access to Mosques, and the discouraging of certain Islamic dress. We raised our concerns during the UK-China Human Rights Dialogue in May 2014, and continue to do so as part of our broader relationship. According to the authorities in the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), there are a small number of state-sanctioned places of worship, although we are unaware of any facilities for practicing Muslims outside Diplomatic Missions. The majority of the DPRK’s small Muslim community are foreign nationals. We are unaware of any recent reports of persecution of Muslims. However, there are many reports that North Koreans who are involved in any religious activity outside of state-controlled organisations have been imprisoned for practising their beliefs. We regularly raise our concerns with the DPRK authorities.

Africa and Middle East

Dr Alasdair McDonnell: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what recent steps his Department has taken to tackle the persecution of Christians in (a) Africa and (b) the Middle East.

Mr David Lidington: The promotion and protection of the right to freedom of religion or belief is one of the UK’s human rights priorities. We regularly urge foreign governments at senior levels to uphold the rights of all minorities; work to build international consensus on freedom of religion or belief; and support practical projects on community dialogue with civil society and faith groups.An example of our lobbying in Africa was the case of Meriam Ibrahim, who was sentenced to death for apostasy. The Prime Minister, my right hon. Friend the Member for Witney (Mr Cameron), the Secretary of State for International Development, my right hon. Friend the member for Putney (Ms Greening) and the Minister for Africa my hon. Friend the Member for Rochford and Sounthend East (Mr Duddridge) all publicly condemned her sentencing, and called on the Government of Sudan to respect the right to freedom of religion or belief and international human rights laws. Following UK and international pressure Ms Ibrahim was subsequently released.We are deeply concerned by the difficulties facing many Christians and religious minorities in the Middle East and deplore all discrimination and constraints on freedom of religion.

Egypt

Mr Gareth Thomas: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs, what representations the Government has made to the Egyptian government about the death of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh; and if he will make a statement.

Mr Tobias Ellwood: We deplore the deaths in Egypt in recent days. We are deeply concerned by the use of deadly force against those demonstrating peacefully on 25 January. My rt hon friend the Foreign Secretary spoke to Egypt’s Foreign Minister, Sameh Shukri, on 27 January and conveyed his deep concern about the violence and the deaths, including that of Shaimaa El-Sabbagh. He urged that an independent investigation take place as soon as possible. I also raised these concerns with the Egyptian Ambassador on 27 January.Egypt’s long-term stability and success requires protection of the rights that underpin peaceful politics, including accountability of the security forces and revision of the demonstrations law.

Attorney General

Rape

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Attorney General, how many rape complainants have been prosecuted for (a) perverting the course of justice and (b) wasting police time in each criminal justice area in each year since 2010.

Mr Robert Buckland: The Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of prosecutions against rape complainants for perverting the course of justice and/or wasting police time. Obtaining this information would therefore require a manual review of individual case files which would incur a disproportionate cost.

Rape

Mr Nicholas Brown: To ask the Attorney General, how many private prosecutions have been instigated against rape complainants in the last five years.

Mr Robert Buckland: Private prosecutions are instigated by private individuals and the Crown Prosecution Service does not maintain a central record of the number or nature of these.

Department for Business, Innovation and Skills

Trade Promotion

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many attendances at events by businesses have been facilitated by the Tradeshow Access programme in each (a) year of the present Parliament and (b) of the last 12 months.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 02 February 2015



The Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) is one of a wider suite of UKTI products and services offering event and mission support for businesses.   Financial YearEventsBusiness Attendances2010/113904,100*2011/123503,200*2012/133055,7962013/144089,4271 January 2014 to 31 December 201438410,000   *Business attendances as a result of non-grant services were only recorded from 2012/2013 and would have been in addition to the numbers for companies supported financially in the years 2010/11 and 2011/12.

Trade Promotion

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many companies have received financial support under the Tradeshow Access programme in each (a) year of the present Parliament and (b) of the last 12 months.

Matthew Hancock: Holding answer received on 02 February 2015



The number of companies who received financial support through the Tradeshow Access Programme (TAP) during the present Parliament is provided below.   Financial YearCompany Supports2010/114,1002011/123,2002012/133,9572013/146,0231 January 2014 to 31 December 20145,175

Fossil Fuels: Research

Mr Mike Weir: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, pursuant to the Answer of 27 January 2015 to Question 221347, how much UK funding of research and development directed towards the oil and gas sector since 2010 has been provided by the Government, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies; and what proportion that amount represents of all Government research and development funding in that period.

Matthew Hancock: Data on how much UK funding of Research & Development (R&D) has been directed by the Government, its agencies and non-departmental public bodies towards the oil and gas sector since 2010 is not available.

Business Ambassadors

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many trade missions have been completed by each of the Government's Business Ambassadors in the last 12 months; on what dates each such visit took place; and to which countries those Ambassadors travelled on each such occasion.

Matthew Hancock: In the last 12 months, the Business Ambassadors have participated in more than 150 activities in over 40 markets, including giving speeches, mentoring businesses, and participating in key events such as GREAT Weeks and Festivals. Their role is not primarily to lead trade mission but to promote UK business when travelling overseas as part of their own business engagements.   The only trade missions in the past 12 months led by a Business Ambassador were both led by the Rt Hon Brian Wilson. The date of the first mission was the 13-16 January 2014 to Cuba, and the other was 16-19 November 2014 to Taiwan.

Counterfeit Manufacturing: Internet

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps his Department is taking to prevent the sale online of counterfeit goods.

Mr Edward Vaizey: This Government takes IP crime very seriously and is working closely with law enforcers and rights holders to tackle criminality, including the sale of counterfeit goods online. We have provided an additional £3 million investment in the Police IP Crime Unit (PIPCU), securing its future until 2017. PIPCU is working to remove payment provisions from infringing websites using money laundering legislation, and in 2014 removed 4,650 offending sites with a ‘.co.uk’ address. The Intellectual Property Office continues to share intelligence with relevant enforcement bodies and in the last two weeks contributed to the seizure of a £1m shipment of counterfeit goods, thought to be bound for the online market, by the UK Border Force. This activity is supplemented by education programmes and a government/private industry partnership to provide IP training to enforcement officers and brand representatives to help stem the demand for counterfeit products.

Overseas Trade: Turkey

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what steps he is taking to support UK companies bidding for contracts in Turkey.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Business, Innovation and Skills has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Apprentices

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, what proportion of apprenticeship starts have been at (a) Level 2, (b) Level 3 and (c) Level 4 in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) London and (iii) the UK in each of the last five years.

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Business, Innovation and Skills, how many apprenticeship starts have been made by young people aged (a) between 16 and 18, (b) between 19 and 24 and (c) 25 years and above living in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) London and (iii) the UK in each of the last five years.

Nick Boles: Information on apprenticeship starts by Level, age and geography is published in a supplementary table to a Statistical First Release (SFR): https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/382956/apprenticeships-starts-by-geography-level-and-age.xls

Department for International Development

Developing Countries: Females

Jeremy Lefroy: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much her Department has spent on projects for women and girls in each year since 2005-06.

Justine Greening: Empowering women and girls is an important and cross cutting priority for DFID. Since May 2014, under the International Development (Gender Equality) Act 2014 DFID is required to give regard to the contribution its assistance is likely to make to reducing gender inequality or to gender related differences in needs, before any assistance is provided. The table below shows all spend where Gender Equality was either a “Principle” or “Significant” objective.Sum of Funds Spent (GBP £m)2005/06711.82006/07869.92007/081,282.32008/091,676.42009/101,9452010/112,211.92011/122,609.82012/132,795.52013/143,750.42014/15 to 29th Jan3,164.1Grand Total21,017.2

Developing Countries: Educational Exchanges

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effectiveness of the Global Learning Programme.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Global Learning Programme (GLP) is reviewed on an annual basis and the reports are published on the development tracker website. (http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/projects/GB-1-201469/documents/).

Educational Exchanges: Norfolk

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which schools in Norfolk have registered for the Global Learning Programme.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Global Learning Programme in England aims to reach 10,500 schools by 2017, the following Schools in Norfolk have registered.   School NameArchbishop Sancroft CofE High SchoolCorpusty Primary SchoolDuchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary SchoolHoward Junior SchoolLakenham Primary SchoolLong Stratton High SchoolSandringham & West Newton CE Primary SchoolSpringwood High SchoolSt Augustines Catholic Primary SchoolThe Iceni AcademyThe James Bradfield Church of England Community Primary SchoolThe Norman CofE Primary SchoolTivetshall Primary School

Educational Exchanges: Norfolk

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, which schools in Norfolk are Global Learning Programme Expert Centres; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: There are 13 schools in Norfolk registered to participate in the Global Learning Programme, these are:Archbishop Sancroft CofE High SchoolCorpusty Primary SchoolDuchy of Lancaster Methwold CofE Primary SchoolHoward Junior SchoolLakenham Primary SchoolLong Stratton High SchoolSandringham & West Newton CE Primary SchoolSpringwood High SchoolSt Augustines Catholic Primary SchoolThe Iceni AcademyThe James Bradfield Church of England Community Primary SchoolThe Norman CofE Primary SchoolTivetshall Primary SchoolHowever none are currently Global Learning Programme Expert Centres.

Educational Exchanges: Schools

Simon Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many schools have registered for the Global Learning Programme; and if she will make a statement.

Mr Desmond Swayne: To date 2,643 schools have registered for the Global Learning Programme in the UK.

Ukraine

Mr John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, to what programmes the Government has provided technical assistance to support reform of financial and economic governance in Ukraine; and how much the Government has provided to those programmes in each of the last three years.

Mr John Whittingdale: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what technical and financial assistance the Government is planning to provide to Ukraine in 2015-16.

Justine Greening: The UK Government has committed £10 million over financial years 2014/15 and 2015/16 to support governance and economic reform in Ukraine. This includes work with partners including the Government of Ukraine; civil society; a trust fund with the World Bank; an agreement with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development focussed on anti-corruption; a partnership with the German government on public financial management; support to asset recovery; support to donor coordination; and humanitarian assistance.  During the financial years 2012/13 and 2013/14 the UK Government did not provide Ukraine with bilateral assistance.

Procurement

Sir Tony Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, who her Department's top 20 suppliers were on projects in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14; and what the value was of each of those suppliers' contracts in each of those years.

Justine Greening: Information on contracts is published at http://devtracker.dfid.gov.uk/ .

British Overseas Territories

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether her Department plans to continue funding for the next round of the UK Overseas Territories Environment and Climate Fund (Darwin Plus).

Mr Desmond Swayne: This funding is subject to ministerial approval.

Nigeria

Ms Diane Abbott: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, with reference to the report, the Dominion Farms' land grab in Nigeria, published in January 2015, what steps her Department is taking to ensure that projects sponsored by the New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition in Africa do not marginalise farmers in Taraba State, Nigeria.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID is working with members of the Nigerian New Alliance for Food Security and Nutrition partnership to promote responsible agricultural investment in Nigeria. This includes adoption of the internationally endorsed Voluntary Guidelines on the Responsible Governance of Tenure of Land, Fisheries and Forests. The New Alliance partnership in Nigeria has already helped improve market access to 7,290 smallholder farmers and has created 22,670 jobs. DFID is supporting the Nigerian Presidential Technical Committee on Land Reform to roll out systematic land titling and registration across the country. Under our Growth and Employment in States project, 33,500 parcels of land have already been demarcated and certificates of occupancy are being issued. These measures are specifically aimed at protecting the rights of farmers at risk of involuntary relocation.

Argentina

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of financial aid provided to Argentina.

Justine Greening: DFID does not provide financial aid to Argentina.

East Africa

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Government's efforts to alleviate food shortages in Eastern Africa.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The Government helps to alleviate food shortages in East Africa through both emergency support and longer-term development. The UK’s multi-year humanitarian programmes give agencies more capacity to prepare, plan and respond in a timely way. We invest in risk monitoring, early humanitarian response, safety nets protecting vulnerable people and the development of agricultural productivity and markets. The impact of our interventions is regularly evaluated including by independent organisations.For example, in South Sudan, United Nations’ analysis found that the 2014 emergency food security response, to which the UK was a very significant contributor, was a critical factor in averting the widely-predicted outbreak of famine in 2014. In Kenya, UK funding ensures that over 1.3 million people, of which two thirds are women, now have a bank account and can receive emergency cash transfers during a drought. DFID’s FoodTrade Eastern and Southern Africa programme aims to develop the regional market in grains, and is expected to help reduce acute food shortages in East Africa in the long term, while directly benefiting 1.8 million people by 2018.

War on Want

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how much funding her Department allocated to War on Want in each of the last five years.

Mr Desmond Swayne: War on Want has received DFID funding through competitive grants via the Civil Society Challenge Fund.   2009/10 £109,542.58 2010/11 £114,033.07 2011/12 £181,398.18 2012/13 £236,411.36 2013/14 £191,601.19

War on Want

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what projects War on Want promotes on behalf of her Department.

Mr Desmond Swayne: War on Want does not promote projects on DFID’s behalf.

Overseas Aid

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what proportion of UK Official Development Assistance was disbursed to fragile and conflict-affected states in (a) 2012-13, (b) 2013-14 and (c) 2014-15 to date.

Justine Greening: The most recent available figures for UK official development assistance (ODA) show the following proportions were spent in fragile and conflict-affected states (FCAS):   Year% UK ODA Spent in FCAS (Bilateral and multilateral)201039%201144%201242%201343%   ODA spend is calculated on a calendar-year basis; provisional figures for 2014 UK ODA spend will be published in the spring.

Overseas Aid

Mary Creagh: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment she has made of the effect of the Office for National Statistics' revisions to GDP in December 2014 on the Government's ability to achieve the target of 0.7 per cent of gross national income being spent on official development assistance in this financial year.

Justine Greening: The commitment to reach 0.7 per cent of gross national income being spent on official development assistance is based on official ONS figures.

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, how many staff in her Department have been employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Mr Desmond Swayne: DFID workforce management information, containing detail on consultant, temporary staff and contingent labour, is available on the government website at https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/dfid-workforce-management-information-public-body/ . This includes information from 2010-11 up to and including August 2014.

Communication

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Justine Greening: 2010-11: £3.2m 2011-12: £3.5m 2012-13: £3.0m 2013-14: £3.0m

Advertising

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what her Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Justine Greening: DFID does not hold a central advertising budget.

Overseas Aid

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what measures her Department has put in place to ensure that funding provided by her Department and spent by foreign governments is used for its intended purposes.

Justine Greening: DFID has introduced tighter ministerial controls and tough anti-corruption controls over spending decisions and we only provide aid direct to other governments where we are completely satisfied that the government shares our commitment to the UK’s four Partnership Principles - (1) poverty reduction, (2) respecting human rights, (3) improving public financial management, promoting good governance and transparency and fighting corruption, and (4) strengthening domestic accountability.   We have robust systems for carrying out due diligence and promoting use of funds as well as enhanced internal audit and rigorous external scrutiny. DFID also carries out Fiduciary Risk Assessments which include an explicit assessment of corruption risk. These are subject to independent scrutiny. DFID provides financial aid, only where there is a credible programme to address weaknesses in public financial management.   All organisations which receive funding from DFID are required to provide evidence about the use of funds, including providing audited financial statements, and this is monitored as part of our monitoring of programme performance and delivery.   DFID has a range of audit processes:   · Internal Audit Department. DFID applies a risk based approach to planning its internal audit assignments: using risk registers and the audit committee. · National Audit Office - The DFID Annual Report 2013-2014 which can be found on our website is subject to external audit by National Audit Office (NAO). · The UK Government set up the Independent Commission for Aid Impact (ICAI) to evaluate our work and report directly to Parliament. ICAI examines Official Development Assistance (ODA) across government although concentrates principally on DFID. ICAI reports on audits undertaken are publically available through their website.

Nigeria

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, what assessment the Government has made of financial links between crude oil theft in Nigeria and (a) Boko Haram and (b) wider instability in that country.

Mr Desmond Swayne: We have received no evidence of a financial link between oil theft and Boko Haram, although our assessment is that there is a financial link between oil theft, organised crime and insecurity within the Niger Delta region.

Nigeria

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development, whether the Government received or has had access to the report on crude oil theft in Nigeria, prepared by a US Administration delegation sent to Nigeria by President Obama in December 2013.

Mr Desmond Swayne: The US administration delegation met with British Government Officials in Abuja during their visit to Nigeria and we are aware of their report and its findings.

Department for Education

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many staff in her Department were employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Mr Nick Gibb: The Department for Education has not used employment or recruitment agencies to employ any permanent staff onto its payroll since 2010-11.   The Department does, however, use employment agencies for agency and temporary staff. Monthly figures since March 2011 are in the public domain and can be found at: http://data.gov.uk/dataset/workforce-management-information-department-for-education. Cumulative annual data is not held.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will issue guidance on removing asbestos insulating board which is vulnerable to disturbance or damage from children.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has undertaken a review of its policy on asbestos in schools, which will be published shortly.   The advice for schools on effective asbestos management is based on guidance from the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). HSE recommend that, if asbestos is undamaged and unlikely to be disturbed, then it is usually safer to leave it in place and to manage it as required by the Control of Asbestos Regulations 2012. If asbestos is found to be in an unsealed, damaged or poor condition, then it should be repaired, sealed, enclosed or removed by trained personnel.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, when her Department last reviewed its guidance on assessing the risks from asbestos insulating board accessible to children in schools.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education has undertaken a review of guidance relating to asbestos in schools as part of a wider review of asbestos management in schools, the results of which will be published shortly.

Children in Care

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, how many looked after children in each local authority had (a) one, (b) two, (c) three, (d) four, (e) five, (f) six, (g) seven, (h) eight, (i) nine, (j) 10 or more, (k) 20 or more, (l) 30 or more, (m) 40 or more and (n) 50 or more placements in (i) the most recent year for which figures are available and (ii) while they were in care.

Mr Edward Timpson: The requested information is not held in this format due to confidentiality with the small numbers involved.   The national data on the number of placements during the year (1, 2, 3 or more) is published in Table A3 and the numbers of placements in the care history is published in Table D5 of the ‘Children looked after, including adoption’ statistical first release. [1][1] www.gov.uk/government/statistics/children-looked-after-in-england-including-adoption--2.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what estimate she has made of the number of former pupils who will be diagnosed with mesothelioma from asbestos exposure at school during the 1960s and 1970s.

Mr David Laws: The Department for Education is not aware of data on the number of former pupils who may be diagnosed with mesothelioma as a result of asbestos exposure at school.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if her Department will adopt and implement environmental asbestos fibre board for schools.

Mr David Laws: The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is responsible for policy on the regulation of asbestos, and provides guidance on effective asbestos management.[1]   The Department for Education has undertaken a review of its policy on asbestos management in schools and will publish the results shortly.  [1] www.hse.gov.uk/asbestos/detail.htm

Unemployment: Young People

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what proportion of young people are not in education, employment or training aged 16, 17, 18 and 19 to 24 in (i) Tower Hamlets, (ii) England and (iii) the UK.

Nick Boles: There are several data sources that provide estimates for 16 to 24 year olds who are not in education, employment, or training (NEET), which differ in terms of their geographical coverage, age range, timing and methodology. No single source can provide the information requested in its entirety.   The Department for Education’s definitive estimates of the proportion of academic age 16 to 18 year olds who are NEET in England are published annually in the Statistical First Release (SFR) “Participation in education, training and employment, age 16 to 18”, which is available at the following link:   https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/participation-in-education-training-and-employment-age-16-to-18   The latest estimates from this SFR, relating to the end of 2013, are shown in the table below.   DfE Official Participation Statistics - NEET by academic age, end 2013  16171816-18England4.0%6.1%12.5%7.6% The Department also publishes estimates of the proportion of academic age 16-18 year olds who are NEET in each English local authority using data provided by local authorities from their Client Caseload Information Systems (CCIS). The published data is available at the following link:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/neet-data-by-local-authority-2012-16-to-18-year-olds-not-in-education-employment-or-training   The data coverage and methodology differs from the official national estimates, so the figures are not directly comparable with the SFR figures for England, but it is possible to generate an estimate for England for comparison by aggregating the local authority data. The figures for Tower Hamlets and the aggregated figure for England based on the latest published data, for November 2013 to January 2014, is shown in the table below.   Local Authority CCIS data - NEET by academic age, end 2013 (Nov 2013 - Jan 2014 average)  16171816-18Tower Hamlets2.3%4.9%6.8%4.6%England (aggregated)2.5%5.0%8.7%5.3%   For estimates of the proportion of 19-24 year olds NEET, and for 16-24 year olds as a whole in England, the Department publishes quarterly estimates from the Labour Force Survey (LFS). The latest data is published at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/neet-statistics-quarterly-brief-july-to-september-2014 For estimates of NEET in the UK, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) publishes figures each quarter which are also based on the LFS. The latest estimates are published at the following link: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/lms/young-people-not-in-education--employment-or-training--neets-/november-2014/stb---young-people-not-in-education--employment--training--neet----november-2014.htmlThe ONS estimates of young people NEET in the UK are not directly comparable with estimates published by DfE for England, because they relate to the actual age of the respondent at the time of the survey (rather than academic age) and are seasonally adjusted.

Schools: Transport

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what recent assessment she has made of the average cost of transport to school or college for 16 to 18 year olds.

Mr David Laws: Information on the cost of travel for students is not held centrally and a recent assessment of average costs has not been made by the Department for Education.   The statutory responsibility for transport to education or training for 16- to 18-year-olds rests with local authorities and they are expected to make appropriate decisions bearing in mind local circumstances. While arrangements made by authorities do not have to include free or subsidised transport, most young people do have access to a discount or concession on local bus or train travel, either from their local authority, transport provider, school or college. The £180 million 16 to 19 Bursary Fund is available to help disadvantaged young people to access education and training, and is often used to help with transport costs.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, by what means her Department assessed the extra costs incurred in maintaining and refurbishing the school stock because of the presence of asbestos in its Property Data Survey Programme.

Mr David Laws: The Property Data Survey (PDS) was a high-level, visual survey of the school estate. It did not take account of asbestos, which would only be apparent with an invasive survey. PDS has not been used to make an assessment of any costs associated with the presence of asbestos.

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will discuss the outcome of her Department's review of asbestos policy for schools with the Minister for Education and Skills in the Welsh Government when that review is complete.

Mr David Laws: The responsibility for the management of asbestos in schools in Wales is devolved to the Welsh Government. The Department for Education has undertaken a review of its policy on asbestos management in schools and will be happy to share the outcomes of that work with the Welsh Government when it is complete.

Ministry of Justice

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners held in open prisons have absconded or escaped on more than one occasion.

Andrew Selous: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 20 November 2014.The correct answer should have been:

There are no central records of the number of prisoners who have self-declared a transgender status. Individuals with a gender recognition certificate are recorded on administrative systems in their legal gender, and are not identifiable as having changed gender. In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, but we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.  The change in policy for eligibility for open conditions was not applied retrospectively: the majority of these offenders who were already in open conditions were allowed to remain. However, any prisoners who were assessed to present an unacceptable risk in such conditions in light of their previous non-compliance were returned to closed prisons. Progression to open prison is never automatic. All prisoners undergo regular, mandatory assessment of their risk of escape or abscond and risk of harm to the public. Only those who are assessed as having an acceptable level of risk for conditions of lower security can be allocated to open prison. As at 31 March 2014, there were no prisoners held in open prisons who had absconded or escaped on more than one occasion between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.  There were 13 prisoners who, in the year ending 31 March 2014, either escaped or absconded from prison, having previously done so between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.  Data on escapes and absconds, prior to 1 April 2010 could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost due to changes in recording practice.  As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Andrew Selous: There are no central records of the number of prisoners who have self-declared a transgender status. Individuals with a gender recognition certificate are recorded on administrative systems in their legal gender, and are not identifiable as having changed gender. In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, but we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances.  The change in policy for eligibility for open conditions was not applied retrospectively: the majority of these offenders who were already in open conditions were allowed to remain. However, any prisoners who were assessed to present an unacceptable risk in such conditions in light of their previous non-compliance were returned to closed prisons. Progression to open prison is never automatic. All prisoners undergo regular, mandatory assessment of their risk of escape or abscond and risk of harm to the public. Only those who are assessed as having an acceptable level of risk for conditions of lower security can be allocated to open prison. As at 31 March 2014, there were no prisoners held in open prisons who had absconded or escaped on more than one occasion between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.  There were 13 prisoners who, in the year ending 31 March 2014, either escaped or absconded from prison, having previously done so between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014.  Data on escapes and absconds, prior to 1 April 2010 could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost due to changes in recording practice.  As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Prisoner Escapes

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many prisoners who escaped or absconded from prison in the last year for which figures are available had previously escaped or absconded from prison.

Andrew Selous: In March, we announced a package of measures to ensure that the public was properly protected. Absconds and escapes have reached record lows under this Government, but we take each incident seriously. As a result of a comprehensive review, we have made major changes to tighten the eligibility for open prisons. Prisoners may no longer be transferred to open conditions or allowed out on temporary release if they have previously absconded, escaped, attempted to escape, or if they have failed to return or have re-offended whilst released on temporary licence, unless there are exceptional circumstances. The change in policy for eligibility for open conditions was not applied retrospectively: the majority of these offenders who were already in open conditions were allowed to remain. However, any prisoners who were assessed to present an unacceptable risk in such conditions in light of their previous non-compliance were returned to closed prisons. Progression to open prison is never automatic. All prisoners undergo regular, mandatory assessment of their risk of escape or abscond and risk of harm to the public. Only those who are assessed as having an acceptable level of risk for conditions of lower security can be allocated to open prison. As at 31 March 2014, there were no prisoners held in open prisons who had absconded or escaped on more than one occasion between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014. There were 13 prisoners who, in the year ending 31 March 2014, either escaped or absconded from prison, having previously done so between 1 April 2010 and 31 March 2014. Data on escapes and absconds, prior to 1 April 2010 could not be obtained except at disproportionate cost due to changes in recording practice. As part of business as usual, open prisons return prisoners to closed conditions where they judge that they can no longer be managed safely in open conditions. Figures for this ongoing process are not included here. These figures have been drawn from administrative IT systems which, as with any large scale recording system, are subject to possible errors with data entry and processing.

Radicalism

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 5.3.2 of the report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, how many one-to-one sessions have been conducted to challenge extremist views in each prison since April 2014.

Stephen Barclay: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, with reference to paragraph 5.3.2 of the report of the Prime Minister's Task Force on Tackling Radicalisation and Extremism, published in December 2013, what the budget of the Ibaana programme is; to which prisons that programme has been rolled out; and how many prisoners have completed that programme.

Andrew Selous: To enable it to carry out its extremism programme NOMS receives funding from OSCT , which does not release the breakdown of funding per sector as this could potentially reveal where the threat to the national security is greatest. This may impact negatively on the delivery of the Prevent programme and the range of activities, including Ibaana, that are currently deployed in prisons to prevent terrorism. This could serve to weaken and prejudice the national security of the UK.The Ibaana programme is being finalised and will be rolled out, where appropriate, in due course.

Mental Health Review Tribunal

Jeremy Corbyn: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, if he will give victims the right to be represented at mental health tribunals.

Mike Penning: The Domestic Violence Crime and Victims Act 2004 provides victims with a right to make representations to the mental health tribunal, in certain categories of case. These submissions are limited to the type of conditions (if any) which may be imposed on the patient should they be released from detention. The Chamber President has issued guidance as to when a tribunal should consider allowing a victim to make submissions.

Domestic Violence: Sentencing

Seema Malhotra: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many victims of domestic violence have been imprisoned for contempt of court in the last five years.

Mike Penning: Domestic violence and abuse is a dreadful crime and has no place in our society. Tackling it has been one of this Government’s top priorities. We are determined to support victims in rebuilding their lives and reporting these crimes, and to make sure perpetrators are brought to justice. We have piloted and rolled out Clare's Law and domestic violence protection orders; extended the definition of domestic abuse to cover controlling behaviour and teenage relationships; run two successful campaigns to challenge perceptions of abuse; and placed Domestic Homicide Reviews on a statutory footing to make sure lessons are learned from individual tragedies. More recently we have added an amendment to the Serious Crime Bill at Commons Committee stage to create a new offence of domestic abuse. Information held centrally by the Ministry of Justice on the Court Proceedings Database does not include the circumstances behind each case beyond the description provided in the statute. It is not possible separately to identify from this centrally held information how many people imprisoned for contempt of court have also been victims of a crime. This detailed information may be held on court records but is not reported centrally to the Ministry of Justice. As such, the information requested could only be obtained at disproportionate cost.

Reparation by Offenders

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many offenders who have been part of a restorative justice scheme have reoffended in each of the last five years.

Andrew Selous: Information about the numbers of offenders who participate in Restorative Justice activities, and the outcomes from those activities, is not collated centrally.  We are committed to ensuring that good quality, victim-focused Restorative Justice is made available for victims and offenders at all stages of the criminal justice system across England and Wales. Research by the Ministry of Justice of a number of Restorative Justice pilots suggests that Restorative Justice has the potential for positive impacts both on victim satisfaction and on re-offending, with evaluation of the pilots finding that overall there was an estimated 14% reduction in the frequency of re-offending.

Open Prisons

Dr Matthew Offord: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidance his Department has issued to open prisons on reducing the number of absconders.

Andrew Selous: The National Offender Management Service (NOMS) conducted a fundamental review of the policy and practice related of Release on Temporary Licence (ROTL) last year. NOMS have subsequently introduced a system that enhances the assessment of serious offenders and restricts access to ROTL to cases where there is a clear resettlement purpose. The enhanced or “restricted ROTL” approach for serious offenders involves tighter eligibility and monitoring, more risk assessment including case file reviews by psychologists, and greater involvement by offender managers. Changes have also been made to the allocation of prisoners to open conditions; foreign national prisoners with ongoing immigration matters and prisoners who have absconded or failed to return from ROTL during their current sentence will not be transferred to open conditions or have further ROTL. NOMS closely monitors absconds to identify trends and patterns. All absconds or failures to return by restricted ROTL prisoners are the subject of an internal investigation by a senior manager. The lessons learned are considered by a central forum of open prison Governors under the chairmanship of the Deputy Director of Public Sector Prisons.

Driving under Influence

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many people were (a) breathalysed and (b) convicted of driving while under the influence of alcohol in December in each of the last five years.

Mike Penning: Driving offences can have very serious and sometimes devastating consequences for victims and their families. That is why the Government is toughened the law by closing loopholes relating to breath tests conducted by the police. The number of breath tests carried out by police in England and Wales between 2008 and 2012, the latest year available, and the number of tests that were positive or refused is set out in the table below. For reporting purposes the Home Office does not differentiate between ‘positive’ and ‘refused’ breathe tests. If an individual refuses a breath test, this is an offence which carries the same maximum penalty as a positive breath test. YearNumber of breath testsPositive/Refused2008711,65891,6662009815,29093,3482010736,84684,4362011685,99280,7612012682,55875,868 The table below sets out the total number of offenders found guilty of drink driving offences in England and Wales per year between 2009 and 2013 (the latest year available) and in December of each year. YearTotal number of offences Of which December =200968,3355,041201053,3053,823201150,3203,774201250,1923,498201347,8443,645

Prison Service

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data the Government collects on the recruitment of prison officers and staff.

Andrew Selous: Recruitment into the National Offender Management Service is managed by Shared Services Connect Limited on behalf of NOMS. Relevant information on the progress of each candidate through the recruitment stages is collected as part of the administration of the recruitment system.

Prison Service

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what recent representations he has received from prison officers and staff regarding morale amongst prison staff and officers.

Andrew Selous: National Offender Management Service staff write to the Secretary of State on a wide range of issues. A central record of the detail of these letters is not held.

Sentencing: Wales

Mr David Hanson: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the (a) sex of the offender (b) offence type and (c) length of sentence was in each case resulting in immediate custody at all courts in the North Wales police force area in each year from 2010 to 2014.

Mike Penning: Whilst crime is falling, since 2010 offenders are more likely to go to prison, and for longer. Sentencing in individual cases is a matter for our independent courts taking into account all the circumstances of each case. The number of people and length of sentence imposed in each case resulting in immediate custody at all courts by gender and offence type in North Wales police force area from 2010 to 2013 (latest data available) can be viewed in the attached table. Court proceedings data for 2014 are planned for publication in spring 2015



Number of Offenders given Custodial Sentences
(Excel SpreadSheet, 320 KB)

Prison Service

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 10 prisons received the highest (a) number and (b) proportion of detached duty staff from another prison in the latest period for which figures are available.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what data his Department holds on the number of prison staff on detached duty.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which 10 prisons sent the highest (a) number and (b) proportion of staff on detached duty to other prisons in each of the last five years for which records are available.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate he has made of the number of prison officers and staff on detached duty in each month of 2014.

Mr Barry Sheerman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, which department co-ordinates detached duty in the prison service.

Andrew Selous: A nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme has been operating since 21 October 2013. Information on the number of officers serving on detached duty before the introduction of the national scheme is not available. The national scheme is co-ordinated by the National Offender Management Service. Information on the average weekly provision of staff, in terms of full time equivalent officers, that were provided as part of the nationally co-ordinated detached duty scheme, is shown in the table below for January to September 2014, which is the date of the latest published HR data. Table: Average Monthly provision of staff on detached duty to prisons in England & Wales January - September 2014MonthAverage Monthly ProvisionJan-14210Feb-14160Mar-14130Apr-14210May-14160Jun-14170Jul-14230Aug-14240Sep-14230 Staff numbers have been rounded to the nearest 10 in line with the department’s policy for presenting staffing data. Values of 5 or fewer are denoted as ~. Establishments that have provided staff on detached duty have been able to do so because of surplus staff available, as a result of displacement of staff following prison closures or change of role. Other prisons, without surplus staffing levels have supplied staff for detached duty where this was possible whilst maintaining stable and safe regimes.  Information on the ten establishments which have provided and received the highest number of staff on detached duty between January and September 2014 can be found below. Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons providing the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014 EstablishmentAverage  Monthly Contribution EstablishmentProportion of Officers in PostDownview50 Downview64%The Verne20 The Verne18%Warren Hill20 Warren Hill17%Bure10 Bure9%Norwich10 Norwich6%Deerbolt~ Kirklevington Grange5%Risley~ Thorn Cross4%Leeds~ Kennet3%Stoke Heath~ Deerbolt3%Thorn Cross~ Coldingley2%Downview has been closed for the duration of the Detached Duty Scheme. The Verne was closed whilst being converted into an Immigration Removal Centre; it re-opened September 2014.  Table: Average Monthly Provisions and Proportion of the ten prisons receiving the largest number or the largest proportion of staff on detached duty in England & Wales January - September 2014 EstablishmentAverage Monthly Contribution EstablishmentProportion of Officers in PostFeltham10 Aylesbury9%High Down10 High Down7%Woodhill10 Werrington6%Aylesbury10 Rochester6%Nottingham10 Portland5%Rochester10 Isis5%Elmley10 Cookham Wood5%Portland10 Nottingham5%Isis10 Haverigg4%Gartree10 Gartree4% On some occasions detached duty is organised from a group of establishments at the same time and on these occasions it is not possible to attribute staff to particular establishments.

First-tier Tribunal

Steve McCabe: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what guidelines his Department has issued to the Tribunals Service on timescales for appeal hearings at First Tier Tribunals from when the appeal has been submitted; and if he will make a statement.

Mike Penning: The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) publishes official statistics on the operation of HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) including end to end timeliness data for a number of Tribunals. These statistics are published on a quarterly basis and the most recent official statistical publication (covering the period up to the end of September 2014) can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/tribunals-statistics. The end to end timeliness data captures the timelines from receipt of a claim or appeal with HMCTS until the hearing or final disposal of the case.The MoJ does not issue guidelines to HMCTS about the timescales from receipt of an appeal to the actual hearing for individual tribunal jurisdictions. This time period varies considerably between the jurisdictions because of their diverse nature, the complexity of their cases and the length of preparation required by the parties.

COE Commissioner for Human Rights

Mr Nigel Dodds: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what correspondence on what topics he has had with the Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights in the last 24 months.

Simon Hughes: The Ministry of Justice has not corresponded directly with the Commissioner in the last two years. The United Kingdom Permanent Representation to the Council of Europe is the primary point of contact with the Commissioner for Human Rights.

Drugs: Crime

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average value was of a confiscation order for drug-related crimes in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many confiscation orders were issued in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Mike Penning: The table below shows the total number of confiscation orders issued for 2012/13 and 2013/14. It also shows the average value of confiscation orders made for drug related offences. The average value data is based on the ‘current’ order value and not the ‘original’ order value to ensure the data accurately captures amendments to the values following successful appeals or variations.  2012/20132013/2014Total orders issued64016033Average value of orders issued (drug related offences)£16,336.86£16,490.30   Confiscation orders are one of the key mechanisms available to the Government to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes. They are based on the notional benefit attributed to the crime and may therefore exceed the value of realisable assets that are known to the Court at the time of imposition. Crucially, an order that is outstanding stops the criminal benefitting from the proceeds of crime and ensures that, if assets are discovered in the future, they can be seized. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and other agencies involved in confiscation order enforcement take the recovery of criminal assets very seriously and are working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority. The amount defendants repaid from their criminal activity across all agencies has increased for the last five consecutive years and we are currently on course to have another highly effective year. £137.2million was collected in 2013/14 (which represented a 4% increase on the total recovered during 2012/13); as at the end of December 2014, £113 million had been recovered, which is an increase of 10% on the same period last year.The majority of Confiscation Orders (52% by value) are enforced by agencies other than HM Courts & Tribunals Service. These agencies include the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities.

Drugs: Crime

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what proportion of offenders convicted in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14 were convicted for what drug-related crimes.

Mike Penning: Under this Government crime is falling and criminals are more likely to go to prison and for longer. Drug offending is serious in itself, and drug dealers can expect substantial prison sentences, but drug abuse also underlies a huge volume of acquisitive and violent crime which can blight communities. The independent Sentencing Council issued a sentencing guideline on drug offences, effective from February 2012, which brought sentencing guidance together for the first time to help to ensure consistent and proportionate sentencing for all drug offences that come before courts.   The number of offenders found guilty at all courts of drug offences and of all drug-related offences, by quarter, in England and Wales from 2012 to 2013, can be viewed in the table below.   Offenders found guilty at all courts of drug offences, by quarter, England and Wales, 2012 to 2013 (1)(2)  Offence20122013 Q1Q2Q3Q4Q1Q2Q3Q4Importation and Exportation (3)Number167135112129138101111108Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%Production (4)Number1,7891,6561,6401,6011,6311,6021,6221,454Proportion of total offences1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%Supply (5)Number1,0409168427601,050982922936Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%Possession (6)Number10,4919,33110,4579,5579,9259,8409,6469,108Proportion of total offences3%3%3%3%3%3%3%3%Possession with intent to supply (7)Number1,8541,6821,6571,6591,6911,7741,8931,737Proportion of total offences1%1%1%1%1%1%1%1%Incitement to supply (8)Number-2------Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%Permitting premises to be used for illegal purposes (9)Number135102120112127116127122Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%Vienna Convention offences (10)Number----2---Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0%Miscellaneous offences (11)Number6739353841635662Proportion of total offences0%0%0%0%0%0%0%0% Total (drug offences)15,54313,86314,86313,85614,60514,47814,37713,527 Total (other offences)312,074282,920289,521288,946286,896276,833277,308273,944 Total (England and Wales)327,617296,783304,384302,802301,501291,311291,685287,471 Drug convictions (%)5%5%5%5%5%5%5%5% '-' = Nil (1) The figures given in the table relate to persons for whom these offences were the principal offences for which they were dealt with. When a defendant has been found guilty of two or more offences it is the offence for which the heaviest penalty is imposed. Where the same disposal is imposed for two or more offences, the offence selected is the offence for which the statutory maximum penalty is the most severe. (2) Every effort is made to ensure that the figures presented are accurate and complete. However, it is important to note that these data have been extracted from large administrative data systems generated by the courts and police forces. As a consequence, care should be taken to ensure data collection processes and their inevitable limitations are taken into account when those data are used. (3) Offences under SS 50(2),(3),(5), 68 (2) & (4) & 170 (1-4) of the Customs and Excise Management Act 1979(4) Offences under Section 4(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (5) Offences under Section 4(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (6) Offences under Section 5(2) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (7) Offences under Section 5(3) of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (8) Offences under Section 19 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (9) Offences under Section 8 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1971   (10) Offences under SS12-19 of the Criminal Justice (International C-Operation) Act 1990 and RR6(5), 7, 7(5) & 8 of the Controlled Drug (Drug Precursors)(Community External Trade) Regulations 2008 (11) Offences under SS 9, 11(2), 12 (6), 13(3), 17 (4), 18 (2-4), 20 & 23 (4) of The Misuse of Drugs Act 1971 & SS 327 - 330, 333, 336 (5) & (6) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 NB - 0% readings are due to rounding down from below 0.5% Source: Justice Statistics Analytical Services - Ministry of Justice.Ref: PQ 222733 Whilst criminal justice statistics for England and Wales as a whole for the years 2012 and 2013 are in the public domain, statistics for the year 2014 are planned for publication on the Ministry of Justice website in May 2015. Please note that whilst quarterly court proceedings and convictions headline data are published on the Ministry of Justice website and are currently available up to end June 2014, these data are subject to revision as later quarters are published, and are finalised only when the annual publication is made publicly available. To ensure consistency of data released to users, further breakdowns (in this case by specific offences under certain legislation) of 2014 Quarter 1 (January to March) data are not available until the annual criminal statistics publication is published.

Drugs: Crime

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what the average amount recovered through confiscation orders for drug-related crimes was in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Chris Leslie: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many confiscation orders were issued for drug-related crimes in (a) 2012-13 and (b) 2013-14.

Mike Penning: The table below shows the total number of confiscation orders issued for drug related offences in 2012/13 and 2013/14. It also shows the average amount recovered for drug related offences. The average value data is based on the ‘current’ order value and not the ‘original’ order value to ensure the data accurately captures amendments to the values following successful appeals or variations.  2012/20132013/2014Total orders made (drug related offences)36103537Average amount recovered (drug related offences)£10,165.73£8,904.09   Confiscation orders are one of the key mechanisms available to the Government to deprive criminals of the proceeds of their crimes. They are based on the notional benefit attributed to the crime and may therefore exceed the value of realisable assets that are known to the Court at the time of imposition. Crucially, an order that is outstanding stops the criminal benefitting from the proceeds of crime and ensures that, if assets are discovered in the future, they can be seized. HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) and other agencies involved in confiscation order enforcement take the recovery of criminal assets very seriously and are working to ensure that clamping down on defaulters is a continued priority. The amount defendants repaid from their criminal activity across all agencies has increased for the last five consecutive years and we are currently on course to have another highly effective year. £137.2million was collected in 2013/14 (which represented a 4% increase on the total recovered during 2012/13); as at the end of December 2014, £113 million had been recovered, which is an increase of 10% on the same period last year.The majority of Confiscation Orders (52% by value) are enforced by agencies other than HM Courts & Tribunals Service. These agencies include the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS), Serious Fraud Office (SFO), Department for Work and Pensions and local authorities.

Judicial Review

Andy McDonald: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps the Government is taking to uphold the constitutional importance of judicial review.

Andrew Selous: The Government’s reforms to judicial review provide a more balanced and practicable approach that will ensure cases with merit can proceed quickly through to resolution and unmeritorious claims which abuse the system and cause unnecessary delays are filtered out at the earliest opportunity. There is nothing in the reform package which undermines the constitutional role of judicial review as a vital check on the State.

Sexual Offences

Bob Blackman: To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how the Government is supporting the victims of the sex abuse cases that came to light in 2014.

Mike Penning: In December 2014, the Government committed an additional £7m dedicated to supporting victims of childhood sexual abuse (CSA). £2.15m has been given to the 84 rape support centres funded by the Female Rape Support Fund 2014-16 to ensure more victims are able to access support. In addition, over £1 million has been awarded to twelve organisations over two years to provide face-to-face and internet-based support for Male rape victims. The remaining £4.85m is being used by the Home Office to commission support such as counselling for victims of CSA during 2015.

Prime Minister

Coal Gasification

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Prime Minister, if he will establish a Cabinet committee chaired by the Chancellor of the Exchequer on the development of deep offshore underground coal gasification.

Mr David Cameron: Issues relating to the development of deep offshore underground coal gasification are considered at a number of Cabinet committees including the Economic Affairs and Growth and Enterprise Committees.

Iraq Committee of Inquiry

Paul Flynn: To ask the Prime Minister, whether any ceiling was put on the costs of the Iraq Inquiry; and what remuneration has been received by each Committee member.

Mr David Cameron: The Inquiry was established by the last Government which determined its terms of operation. Costs of the Inquiry, including remuneration of its Members, can be found on the Iraq Inquiry website.

Ministry of Defence

Aircraft Carriers

Sir Nick Harvey: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what his Department has spent on the aircraft carrier programme in each of the last four financial years; and what the projected spend is on that programme in each of the next four financial years.

Mr Philip Dunne: The total spent on the Queen Elizabeth Class aircraft carrier programme in each of the last four financial years, as published in the National Audit Office’s Major Project Report covering each of the relevant years, is as follows: 2010-112011-122012-132013-14£630 million£670 million£712 million£773 million I am withholding the breakdown of the projected spend on the programme for each of the next four financial years as its disclosure would prejudice commercial interests. The overall cost of the ship programme, as announced by the then Secretary of State for Defence, my right hon. Friend the Member for Runnymede and Weybridge (Mr Hammond), on 6 November 2013, (Official Report, column 251-254), is £6.212 billion.

Nuclear Weapons

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to his written statement of 20 January 2015, HCWS210, what progress has been made towards meeting the commitment made in the 2010 Strategic Defence and Security Review to reduce the UK's overall nuclear warhead stockpile ceiling from not more than 225 to not more than 180 by the mid 2020s.

Michael Fallon: As set out in the Strategic Defence and Security Review, we will reduce the overall stockpile of nuclear warheads to no more than 180 by the mid 2020s. The Government does not comment upon the operational programme.

AWE

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how much has been paid annually by his Department to (a) AWE Management Ltd and (b) AWE plc under the Atomic Weapons Establishment management and operation contract for each year since 2000.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Atomic Weapons Establishment (AWE) Management and Operations contract is with AWE Management Ltd (AWEML). As such, all payments are made to them and not AWE plc. AWE plc is the wholly-owned subsidiary of AWEML, responsible for the day-to day running of AWE. The following table shows expenditure at AWE in each financial year since 2000-01, at outturn prices: Financial Year£ million2000-012752001-022642002-032582003-042862004-053542005-064932006-076872007-088942008-098002009-108702010-119442011-129412012-138612013-14961

Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's annual assurance report for 2013 will be published; and what the reasons are for the time taken to publish that report.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Defence Nuclear Safety Regulator's (DNSR) Annual Report for 2013-14 is programmed to be published on the gov.uk website in February 2015. The report's Executive Summary has already been published on gov.uk as part of the Ministry of Defence's Health, Safety and Environmental Protection Annual Assurance Report for Financial Year 2013-14, and is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/368727/20141020-MOD-AnnualHS-EP-AssuranceReport-2013-14-FINAL-U.pdf

Trident Submarines

Angus Robertson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when the main gate business case for the successor to the Trident Submarine programme will be submitted to his Department's Investment Appraisals Board.

Mr Philip Dunne: The Main Gate Business Case for the Successor submarine programme is planned to be submitted to the Ministry of Defence Investment Approval Committee in early 2016.

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, how many staff in his Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Anna Soubry: The table below lists the number of manpower substitution staff recruited through centrally-contracted employment or recruitment agencies in the years 2010 to 2014. YearTotal Appointments201052120112,90120122,76220132,20920141,582  There are likely to have been smaller numbers of staff recruited directly into business areas, or from off-contract suppliers. However, this information is not held centrally and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Afghanistan

Mr Tom Watson: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, pursuant to the Answer of 16 July 2015, Official Report, column 687W, whether his Department is carrying out a strategic review of the use and effects of remotely piloted air systems in Afghanistan following the end of combat operations in that country.

Mr Mark Francois: Holding answer received on 02 February 2015



We have learnt a variety of lessons on the operation of the UK's Air assets (including Unmanned Aircraft Systems and Remotely Piloted Aircraft Systems) through their use in Afghanistan. We will want to look at lessons that can be learned from the campaign more broadly, but our recent focus has been on a successful drawdown from the ISAF Combat mission and transition to the NATO Resolute Support Mission. No decision has yet been taken on a wider review of combat operations in Afghanistan.

Hebrides Missile Range

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what assessment his Department has made of recent storm damage to buildings and infrastructure relating to Hebrides Range on St Kilda.

Mr Angus Brendan MacNeil: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, when he plans to arrange for buildings pertaining to Hebrides Range on St Kilda, which were damaged by recent high winds, to be repaired.

Anna Soubry: Detailed assessments are being undertaken to determine the extent of repair work required to buildings and equipment at the Ministry of Defence (MOD) tracking station on St Kilda following the recent severe storms. This work is planned to be completed very shortly.It is intended that as much of this work as possible should be conducted in parallel with an existing programme to upgrade equipment at the MOD Hebrides Range, which is currently under way and is due to be completed by late spring 2015.

Veterans

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence, what estimate he has made of the number of military veterans receiving support for (a) mental health and (b) alcohol related issues.

Anna Soubry: The provision of veterans' healthcare, including mental health and alcohol related issues, is primarily the responsibility of the National Health Service in England and the Devolved Administrations. The Ministry of Defence (MOD) has not made an estimate of the number of veterans receiving such support.The Government has made great progress with improving the services provided to meet veterans' mental health needs, including the implementation of all of the recommendations in my hon. Friend, the Member for South West Wiltshire, Dr Andrew Murrison's 'Fighting Fit' report.These measures include: an increase in the number of mental healthcare professionals; a dedicated 24-hour helpline in partnership with Combat Stress; an on-line mental health support and advice website provided by the Big White Wall; structured mental health assessment as part of routine and discharge medicals; and the Veterans Information Service, who contact recent Service leavers to make them aware of mental health and other support available in the community. Veterans are entitled to priority access to healthcare for conditions suspected to be due to their service in the Armed Forces (subject to the clinical needs of others).The MOD has a wide range of measures in place to discourage alcohol misuse in the Armed Forces, including education, training and treatment. Sensible, moderate consumption of alcohol can play an important part in the military culture, but the benefits must always be balanced against the hazards of misuse.

Department for Work and Pensions

Social Security Benefits: Scotland

Ann McKechin: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how much was withheld in benefits sanctions from applicants residing in (a) Glasgow North constituency, (b) the city of Glasgow and (c) Scotland in (i) 2010, (ii) 2011, (iii) 2012, (iv) 2013 and (v) 2014.

Esther McVey: As previously replied and reiterated in the Debate on the matter, the Department does not estimate the amount of benefit withheld as a result of benefit sanctions.

Work Programme

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many former incapacity benefit claimants found fit for work after being reassessed for employment and support allowance between October 2010 and March 2014 have found work as a result of the Work Programme in (a) Airdrie and Shotts constituency, (b) North Lanarkshire, (c) Scotland, (d) the UK, (e) Engand, (f) Wales and (g) Northern Ireland.

Esther McVey: As of September 2014, the Work Programme has helped 368,000 long term unemployed people into lasting work. Many more people have started work but not reached the six month point yet. Industry published figures for the same period, show almost 640,000 have found work. The information we do have shows the number of Work Programme Referrals and Job Outcomes, by payment group and this can be found at:http://tabulation-tool.dwp.gov.uk/WorkProg/tabtool.html Guidance for users can be found at:https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/dwp-tabulation-tool-guidance Information for Northern Ireland is the responsibility of the Department for Social Development in Northern Ireland and can be found at: http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research.htm

Social Security Benefits: British Nationals Abroad

Pamela Nash: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many overseas recipients of (a) pension credit, (b) winter fuel allowance and (c) the Christmas bonus there were in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Steve Webb: Pension Credit is for people who are present and habitually resident in Great Britain. However, Pension Credit may be payable for periods of temporary absence from Great Britain not exceeding 13 weeks, or for the duration of medical treatment received abroad under the National Health Service. Latest available statistics for Winter Fuel Payments in the European Economic Area and Switzerland are published on the Department’s website at: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/winter-fuel-payments-by-eea-country Available statistics for Christmas bonus payments overseas are shown in the table (thousands):  All (GB and overseas)Overseas*2013/1415,4684812012/1315,5864722011/1215,5474562010/1115,4664422009/1015,370425 * Overseas figures are for those not in GB. To get a Christmas bonus you must be present or ‘ordinarily resident’ in the UK, Channel Islands, Isle of Man, Gibraltar, any European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland during the qualifying week.

Housing Benefit

Mr Michael Thornton: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what assessment he has made of the availability of shared accommodation for people under 35 in receipt of housing benefit.

Steve Webb: No assessment has been made of the availability of shared accommodation for single people under 35. However the Department commissioned an independent evaluation of the changes to Local Housing Allowance, including the impacts on single people under 35. The final report was published last year and can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/local-housing-allowance-monitoring-the-impact-of-changes

Personal Independence Payment

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what proportion of personal independence payment claims was (a) disallowed or (b) considered to have been withdrawn due to claimants not returning the PIP2 form in each calendar month since April 2013.

Kate Green: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to Personal Independence Payment new claims: ad hoc statistics, published on 28 January 2015, how many of the 143,000 people disallowed personal independence payment (PIP) claims highlighted in that report were people who were described as not attending an assessment without good reason; what reasons for missing such assessments are permissible; whether the Department or assessment providers adjudicates on reasons for missed appointments; and how many of those people have since reapplied for PIP.

Mr Mark Harper: As detailed in the PIP statistical ad hoc released on the 28th January, by the end of December 2014 143,400 claimants had been disallowed Personal Independence Payment post-referral to the assessment providers. We do not currently hold information that allows us to break this figure down to report how many were disallowed because they did not attend an assessment without good reason, and hence we do not know how many of these claimants have since reapplied for PIP. We do not have high volumes of complaints about disallowance due to non-attendance indicating this isn’t a serious issue. Good Reason is considered on an individual basis by the Department and will be dependent on the individual case. This might typically include a health or domestic emergency for example. Of the 63,600 claims that were disallowed pre-referral to the assessment providers, 94% of these were disallowed due to the claimant not returning the Part 2 form within the time limit (which represents 10% of all registrations up to 31st December 2014). Returning the Part 2 form within the deadline is a legal requirement. Individuals can request an extension if required. There are processes in place to provide additional support to those who need it and haven’t returned their form.The table below provides a time series of these data since April 2013, for new claims normal rules. Normal Rules New Claims Disallowed pre-referral to the APDisallowed for non-return of Part 2Total RegistrationsDisallowed pre-referral to the AP as a % of Total RegistrationsApr-13--3,000-May-13--4,800-Jun-13--23,000-Jul-1310021%34,2000%Aug-131,10086%30,6004%Sep-131,30089%33,7004%Oct-131,70090%35,5005%Nov-133,00094%32,6009%Dec-132,40095%21,70011%Jan-141,90092%37,9005%Feb-1410010%36,0000%Mar-1410011%36,8000%Apr-1410018%32,6000%May-1420026%32,4001%Jun-1412,90098%32,90039%Jul-144,90096%35,00014%Aug-146,00094%31,90019%Sep-147,00096%37,30019%Oct-146,80094%36,20019%Nov-146,60091%32,20020%Dec-147,30094%24,80029% Total63,600 94%624,90010% Source: PIP Computer System claimant records Notes to table;1. Figures have been rounded to the nearest 100. Components may not sum to totals due to rounding.2. Figures are for normal rules (i.e. non special rules for the terminally ill) new claims only.3. Disallowed pre-referral to the assessment providers (AP) includes claims that have been disallowed due to failure of basic eligibility criteria or non-return of the Part 2 form within the time limit and have not been marked as requiring additional support.4. '-' Less than 50 claims in this category.5. Great Britain only.6. Between Feb-14 to May -14 numbers were understated due to an IT issue within the PIP computer system. Issue resolved in Jun-14, with previous months corrected in month, leading to an inflated figure for Jun-14.  Claims may also be withdrawn by the claimant at any point during the PIP claims process (either before or after the return of the PIP2). The latest published PIP ad hoc statistics show that between April 2013 and December 2014 a total of 19,300 claims were withdrawn by the claimant. DWP research with PIP claimants showed that some people reconsidered their claim on receipt of a PIP2 form and decided to withdraw or discontinue it for a range of reasons including improvements in their health condition (see section 4.1 https://www.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/332622/rr_867-early-process-evaluation-of-new-claims-for-pip.pdf)

Children: Maintenance

Stephen Lloyd: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, with reference to the Answer of 11 March 2014, Official Report, column 141W, on children: maintenance, what progress he has made on the development of statistics on compliance, collections and enforcement under the statutory child maintenance scheme; and when he will publish these statistics.

Steve Webb: Experimental Official Statistics on the Child Maintenance Service have been published on a regular quarterly cycle since March 2014. The series of reports can be found at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/statistics-on-the-2012-statutory-child-maintenance-scheme The statistics remain in the early stages of development with new measures added when they are fully assured and meet Official Statistics standards. The next release is scheduled for the end of March 2015.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people received access grants from the Local Welfare Assistance fund in (a) 2013 and (b) 2014 in Birmingham.

Steve Webb: This information is not held by the Department for Work and Pensions. We have a record of the total funding allocated to the local authority, but how the local authority has spent the money would need to be provided by that local authority.

Social Security Benefits: Veterans

Andrew Griffiths: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many veterans are in receipt of (a) jobseekers allowance and (b) employment and support allowance.

Esther McVey: The information requested is not readily available and to provide it would incur disproportionate cost.

Social Security Benefits: Disqualification

Grahame M. Morris: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, whether any targets for the sanction referrals for labour market decision makers are based on the number of sanctions applied.

Esther McVey: There are no targets for sanctions.

Members: Correspondence

Sir Gerald Kaufman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, when he plans to reply to the letters to him dated 1 December 2014 and 2 January 2015 from the right hon. member for Manchester, Gorton with regard to Mr B Wise.

Steve Webb: The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mr Iain Duncan Smith, replied to the Rt. Hon. Member on 29 January 2015.

Personal Independence Payment

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people receiving personal independence payments have undergone an intervention to review their entitlement.

Mr Mark Harper: The information requested is not available at this time. We will make the statistics on PIP interventions available when they meet the standards required for them to be released in official statistics.

Personal Independence Payment

Roger Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, how many people with movement disorders have applied for personal independence payment.

Mr Mark Harper: Information on claims made to Personal Independence Payment (PIP) broken down by condition is not available.

Universal Credit: Tower Hamlets

Rushanara Ali: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, what estimate his Department has made of the (a) number and (b) proportion of residents in Tower Hamlets who will receive universal credit after its roll out on 2 March 2015.

Mr Mark Harper: The Department published its strategy for releasing official statistics on Universal Credit in September 2013 which can be found at: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/universal-credit-statistics These statistics however will be published in accordance with the relevant protocols in the Code of Practice for Official Statistics.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how many staff in her Department were recruited through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Dan Rogerson: For permanent and fixed term staff on the core Defra payroll the information is not held centrally and could only be provided by incurring disproportionate cost.   The Department also uses workers for a time-limited period, who are not on the core Defra payroll, but are paid by a recruitment or employment agency. The number of such staff since 2010-11 is shown below:   YearNumber2010-111192011-12732012-13732013-14912014-15 (to Sept 2014)80

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the number of full-time equivalent staff required by the Environment Agency in order for it to perform its role as a regulator of hydraulic fracturing in (a) 2014-15, (b) 2015-16, (c) 2016-17, (d) 2017-18, (e) 2018-19 and (f) 2019-2020.

Dan Rogerson: Currently the Environment Agency has 17 dedicated members of staff working full-time to develop the regulatory regime for oil and gas activities. This work covers conventional oil and gas, shale gas and coal bed methane. The core team is supported by technical resource from elsewhere in the organisation. The work load fluctuates and the specialists are not solely dedicated to regulating and permitting shale gas activities. Approximately a further 40 staff are currently involved in this work across England.   The Environment Agency recovers its costs through the charges it makes for environmental permits and licences. As a result, the number of staff will be adapted accordingly to meet the regulatory demand.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what techniques to minimise methane emissions (a) are and (b) does she plan to be a requirement of environmental permits for hydraulic fracturing.

Dan Rogerson: Any unintentional release of gas is considered an extractive waste and is regulated by the Environment Agency through the extractive (mining) waste permit. Operators must develop a Waste Management Plan, which is submitted to the Environment Agency as part of a permit application. The Waste Management Plan sets out the measures to be used to control extractive wastes on site and to ensure they are managed safely.   The Environment Agency regulates the flaring of gases from oil and gas exploration through either an extractive (mining) waste permit where the quantity of gas flared is less than 10 tonnes per day or through a permit under the Industrial Emissions Directive where more than 10 tonnes a day is flared. The Environment Agency requires the use of an enclosed flare and will not allow open flaring or venting other than for safety reasons.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what length of time baseline monitoring of methane in groundwater for hydraulic fracturing developments must take place before consent for such developments may be issued.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what national standards apply for the baseline monitoring of methane in groundwater for hydraulic fracturing developments.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency would typically require a minimum of three months baseline monitoring of methane in groundwater for each site proposing to undertake hydraulic fracturing. The Environment Agency may require a longer period of monitoring should they deem it necessary.   The environmental permit will specify requirements for groundwater monitoring, including monitoring for methane. Establishing a baseline will enable any subsequent changes to methane levels in groundwater to be detected and managed. All monitoring must be conducted by companies accredited by the Environment Agency’s Monitoring Certification Scheme.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, if she has consulted the Committee on Climate Change on the effect of hydraulic fracturing on water scarcity in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what assessment she has made of the impact of hydraulic fracturing on water scarcity in the next (a) five, (b) 10 and (c) 20 years.

Dan Rogerson: The industry is at an early stage in its development and it is expected that most companies will obtain water from their local water company. A water company has a legal duty to ensure they can meet the demand for water in their supply area over the next 25 years. A water company may decide not to supply water for hydraulic fracturing if it risks its ability to supply existing customers. Based on industry growth projections to 2032, the Environment Agency estimates that the shale gas industry could require approximately 0.1% of total water abstracted, compared, for example, to 0.3% used in the spray irrigation sector.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what national standards apply for the baseline monitoring of air quality for hydraulic fracturing developments.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what length of time baseline monitoring of air quality for hydraulic fracturing developments must take place before consent for such developments may be issued.

Dan Rogerson: Baseline monitoring of air quality must be undertaken in line with the Environment Agency’s guidance on air quality: the M8 Monitoring of Ambient Air Guidance and the H1 Environmental Risk Assessment Guidance, which includes considering the local air quality situation at the relevant location.   The Environment Agency will assess the adequacy of baseline air monitoring at hydraulic fracturing sites, including the proposed length of monitoring time, against this guidance when it considers the Environmental Management and Monitoring Plans (which include a baseline air quality study) that operators must submit as a Pre-Operational condition.   The Environment Agency adopts a risk-based approach to its assessment, taking into account the specific characteristics of each site and will require baseline monitoring of air quality for the length of time that it deems suitable for each given site. There is no ‘one’ length of time that is applied universally.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what criteria are used to determine the different categories of groundwater risk; and how the risks posed to groundwater by hydraulic fracturing sites are determined.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, by what criteria hydraulic fracturing development may be judged a significant risk to groundwater.

Dan Rogerson: The Environment Agency has a duty to protect all groundwater, regardless of its quality. Its priority is to protect water supplies intended for human consumption as well as ensure protection of groundwater that supplies dependent ecosystems. The Environment Agency will undertake a site based hydrogeological risk assessment for any proposed shale gas site and will object (through planning or our permitting controls) to any activities that they consider pose a risk to groundwater.   Hydraulic fracturing is not permitted in Source Protection Zone 1, and the Environment Agency will not permit the use of hazardous substances as described in Schedule 22 of the Environmental Permitting Regulations 2010 for any activity, including hydraulic fracturing where they would or might enter groundwater and cause pollution.

Fracking

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms exist to require that information on chemical substances and their maximum concentrations is included in the environmental permit for each hydraulic fracturing development.

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what mechanisms exist to require that information on the (a) total daily discharge of hydraulic fracturing fluid into ground and (b) fluid taken off site for disposal is included in the environmental permit for each hydraulic fracturing development.

Dan Rogerson: All oil and gas exploratory sites need permits under the Environmental Permitting (England and Wales) Regulations 2010. Operators are required to disclose the chemicals they propose to use in hydraulic fracturing, and the maximum concentration of each, along with information on total daily discharge of hydraulic fracturing fluid into the ground and the fluid taken off-site for disposal, when they apply to the Environment Agency for the relevant permits. This information is included within the environmental permit with which the operator has a legal obligation to comply. The Environment Agency can take enforcement action to ensure all the information required by the permit is supplied by the operator.

Timber

Neil Parish: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what progress she has made on implementing the Government's timber procurement policy for central government departments which requires the purchase of only legally felled and sustainably produced timber and wood products.

Dan Rogerson: The Government continues to promote and support the Timber Procurement Policy. This includes the provision of practical advice to public sector procurers and suppliers through the Central Point of Expertise on Timber, which provides guidance and information through a helpdesk and regular, targeted workshops. Central Government Departments report on the application of the policy in construction contracts for the purposes of the Greening Government Commitments. Reports are published annually.   Defra has also contracted the Central Point of Expertise on Timber to conduct a review of the certification schemes that support the Timber Procurement Policy to ensure they are sufficiently robust.   In addition, the EU Timber Regulation (EUTR) entered into force in the UK in March 2013. The EUTR prevents the trade of illegally-harvested timber in the EU by laying down obligations on operators who place timber and timber products on the market, and those who subsequently trade in them.

Ground Water

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what estimate she has made of the total area of (a) England and (b) Wales covered by groundwater protection zones (i) 1, (ii) 2 and (iii) 3.

Dan Rogerson: Approximately 15% of the area of England is covered by defined Source Protection Zones (SPZs) 1, 2 and 3.   - SPZ1s cover approximately 2,000 km2 (1.5%) of the area of England.   - SPZ2s, which include the area covered by SPZ1s, cover approximately 7,700 km2 (6.5%) of the area of England.   - SPZ3s, which include the area covered by SPZ1s and SPZ2s, cover approximately 20,000 km2 (15%) of the area of England.   In addition, a large number of small private water supplies will be considered to be within an SPZ1 and SPZ2, and may amount to an additional 5%.   The Welsh Government is responsible for SPZs in Wales.

Plastic Bags

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, for what reasons small and medium-sized enterprises are exempted from the provisions of the draft B Single Use Carrier Bags Charges (England) Order 2015; and if she will bring forward a revised draft Order omitting that exemption.

Dan Rogerson: We have chosen to exempt small and medium businesses (with fewer than 250 employees) from the plastic bag charge to avoid placing an administrative burden on start-up and growing businesses at a time when we are supporting growth in the economy.   Large companies make up the major proportion of the country’s retail market. For example, the relatively small number of retail companies in the UK with more than 500 employees employ 65% of people working in retail and have 69% of annual retail business turnover.   We have no plans to remove the exemption for small and medium businesses, although those businesses are able to charge on a voluntary basis.

Common Agricultural Policy

Miss Anne McIntosh: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, how her Department defines the term active farmer for the purposes of applications for basic farm payments under the reformed CAP; and if she will make a statement.

George Eustice: The active farmer test is set out in the European Regulations, but aspects remain to be interpreted by Member States. Farmers who operate certain non-agricultural activities, comprising waterworks, railway services, airports, real estate services, or permanent sport and recreational grounds, will be ineligible for direct payments unless they meet the ‘readmission criteria’ or received less than €5,000 in direct payments in the previous year.   A business will be readmitted if it: provides evidence that its annual amount of direct payments is at least 5% of the total receipts that it obtained from non-agricultural activities; has an eligible area of at least 36 ha (the median average size of a farm in England); or provides evidence that its agricultural receipts are at least 40% of its total receipts.   We believe the active farmer test risks discouraging farm diversification and may lead to needless restructuring, while offering no benefit to tenants or others who make their living from farming. It is also a burden on both applicants and administrators. We will be arguing in future reform negotiations that the test be optional for the Member State.

Department for Communities and Local Government

Telecommunications

Eric Ollerenshaw: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will bring forward legislative proposals to make the provision of broadband and other appropriate telecommunications access mandatory for all new housing and commercial developments.

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, if he will issue planning guidance to ensure that all new developments of 300 homes or larger must be provided with a broadband connection by the developer.

Brandon Lewis: The National Planning Framework Policy states that in preparing local plans local authorities should support the expansion of high-speed broadband and engage with developers and providers. In December 2014 we published “Better Connected”, a guide agreed between housing developers and utility companies which includes voluntary performance standards for the connection of broadband. Separately Government is also considering whether new buildings should be required to provide certain technology to ensure connections to broadband infrastructure.

Allotments

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to encourage local authorities to protect allotments from development.

Stephen Williams: On 30 January, 2014 the Department published new guidance for local authorities and communities: “Allotment Disposal Guidance: Safeguards and alternatives”, which is intended to clarify the legal and policy safeguards in place to ensure that disposal is properly and thoroughly handled. Through the Community Rights, Government has helped communities to protect allotments – over 20% of the first 50 neighbourhood plans promote allotments and around 50 allotment sites have been listed as ‘assets of community value’ meaning that the allotment holders on these sites would be able to pause the sale of land for up to 6 months to give them the opportunity to raise the money to buy it.I also refer my rt. hon. Friend to the increase in allotment provision under this Government, as outlined in my answer of 14 May 2014, Official Report, Column 645-646W.

Recreation Spaces

Barry Gardiner: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what protections for residual amenity space are provided by the regulatory regimes for (a) planning, (b) environmental permitting and (b) health and safety.

Brandon Lewis: Where residual open space is delivered as part of a new development, local planning authorities can consider imposing conditions that prevent the use of the land for other purposes.If residual open space comes forward for further development, this is likely to require an application for planning permission which must be considered in line with the local plan and national planning policy for open space. The National Planning Policy Framework provides strong protection in relation to building on open space. The Framework makes clear that existing open space, sports and recreational land should not be built on unless an assessment has been undertaken which has clearly shown it to be surplus to requirements, or the loss resulting from the proposed development would be replaced by equivalent or better provision in terms of quantity and quality in a suitable location. The Framework also enables local communities to identify green areas of particular importance to them for special protection by designating them as Local Green Space, through the preparation of local and neighbourhood plans.The regulatory regime for environmental permitting is a matter for the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs. The regulatory regime for health and safety is a matter for the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions.

Future High Streets Forum

Mr Chuka Umunna: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, on how many occasions the Future High Streets Forum has met in the last 12 months; on what dates each such meeting took place; and which of the group's members were in attendance on each such occasion.

Penny Mordaunt: The Future High Streets Forum has met on four occasions in the last 12 months, on 29 April 2014, 8 July 2014, 7 October 2014 and 13 January 2015. A full membership list is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/groups/future-high-streets-forum#membership. Members are free to either attend the meeting or send an observer.

Housing Associations: Finance

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the Government plans to consult on ways to increase the borrowing capacity of housing associations in relation to the valuation of properties transferred from local authorities.

Brandon Lewis: The Government intends to issue a consultation document in due course.

Welfare Assistance Schemes

Richard Burden: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what representations he has received about the decision to withdraw funding for the Local Welfare Assistance scheme.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: St Austell

Stephen Gilbert: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many new homes have been completed in St Austell and Newquay constituency in each of the last five years; and how many of those homes have been affordable housing.

Brandon Lewis: Holding answer received on 03 February 2015



Statistics on house building starts and completions by tenure in each local authority district, including Cornwall, are published in the Department's live tables 253 (annual) and 253a (quarterly), which are available at the following link: http://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-house-building A more complete account of additional affordable housing including new build and acquisitions is provided for each local authority area in England and is published in the Department’s live table 1008, which is available at the following link: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistical-data-sets/live-tables-on-affordable-housing-supplyThese statistics are not available by parliamentary constituency.

Housing Associations

Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he plans to take to deregulate housing associations.

Brandon Lewis: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Housing: Construction

Ms Rosie Winterton: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what support is available to (a) Doncaster local authority area and (b) other local authority areas which are not among the Build pilot areas to accelerate house-building.

Brandon Lewis: The Government is supporting all local authority areas, including Doncaster, to accelerate house-building through major policies including simplifying the planning system, programmes such as Help to Buy and Build to Rent, investment in affordable homes and in specific sites, and incentives like the New Homes Bonus. The £150 million Custom Build Serviced Plots fund is open to bids from the Doncaster area. These actions led to planning permissions for 240,000 homes being granted in the year to September 2014. Doncaster’s dwelling stock increased by 650 units in 2013-14. Between April 2010 and September 2014, 520 units have been delivered in Doncaster through the Affordable Homes Programme. Alongside this, we have the following projects supporting housing building in Doncaster, funded through various Property and Regeneration funding programmes: - At Carr Lodge Farm, the amount invested to date is £4.24 million through the Accelerated Land Disposal plus £2.60 million though the National Coalfields Programme. 326 homes being delivered by developers Keepmoat, Strata and Fairgrove Homes. - At Bentley, the amount invested to date is £9.15 million though the National Coalfields Programme via the Public Land Initiative. 170 homes being delivered by developer Keepmoat. - At Askern, the amount invested to date is £7.34 million through the National Coalfields Programme. 288 homes being delivered: by developer Keepmoat. - At Brodsworth, the amount invested to date through the National Coalfields Programme is £11.8 million. Seeking planning permission for 350 homes. Plan to offer to Market in late 2015.

Local Government: ICT

Chi Onwurah: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what assessment his Department has made of the effect of refunding VAT for contracted out services on the (a) ability and (b) incentives for local authorities to (i) share software services and (ii) use off the shelf software and Cloud services.

Kris Hopkins: The Department for Communities and Local Government has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Regional Planning and Development: Greater London

Mr Andy Slaughter: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, how many applicants there were for the Mayoral Development Corporation Old Oak Director position.

Kris Hopkins: The Department does not hold this information. The Mayor of London is responsible for Mayoral Development Corporations and will be able to answer any questions relating to these bodies, including staffing matters.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what recent discussions he has had with the leaders of Greater Manchester's local authorities about the appointment of an interim Mayor of Greater Manchester city-region.

Kris Hopkins: I refer the hon. Member to the Written Ministerial Statement of 3 November 2014, Official Report, Column 36WS.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, whether he has a veto over the appointment of an interim Mayor of Greater Manchester city-region.

Kris Hopkins: No.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects an announcement to be made about the appointment of an interim eleventh leader of Greater Manchester city-region.

Kris Hopkins: This will be a matter for Greater Manchester, once any Order is made providing for the eleventh member.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when he expects the Greater Manchester Combined Authority to specify an appointments process for the interim Mayor of Greater Manchester city-region.

Kris Hopkins: This is a matter for Greater Manchester.

Mayors: Greater Manchester

Lisa Nandy: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, when the city-region mayor created by the Greater Manchester devolution agreement will be subject to term limits.

Kris Hopkins: No. We do not support term limits in local government. The ballot box provides the best mechanism for the electorate to endorse or remove an elected representative.

Carbon Monoxide: Poisoning

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, what steps he is taking to raise awareness of carbon monoxide poisoning in homes.

Brandon Lewis: The Government takes carbon monoxide poisoning seriously.The Cross Government Group on Gas Safety and Carbon Monoxide Awareness recent report lists the actions that have been taken by a number of Departments to raise awareness of the dangers of carbon monoxide poisoning. The report can be accessed at the following link: http://www.hse.gov.uk/gas/domestic/cross-government-group-1314.pdf

Wales Office

Schools: Asbestos

Hywel Williams: To ask the Secretary of State for Wales, what discussions his Department has had with the Welsh Government on who has responsibility for asbestos policy in Welsh schools.

Alun Cairns: In May 2014, the Welsh Government published guidance on asbestos management in schools to ensure that head teachers, school governors and other members of the school management team are aware of requirements in respect of asbestos management procedures and legislation.The Department for Education is undertaking a review of asbestos policy for schools in England and has committed to sharing the outcomes from this work with the Welsh Government.

HM Treasury

Employment Agencies

Lucy Powell: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many recruitment and employment agencies his Department has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

Andrea Leadsom: This information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many complaints his Department has received concerning the inability of people who have applied for pensioner bonds to have their applications dealt with owing to breakdowns in the website of the agency handling the sale.

Andrea Leadsom: The 65+ “Pensioner” Bond launch has had the biggest opening sales of any retail financial product in Britain’s modern history. In advance of the launch NS&I doubled the size of their call centres, and have now added further staff to help manage the high call volumes. National Savings & Investment’s website is operating normally. This remains the easiest route by which to invest and provides immediate assurance that an application has been received. Customers can also invest by making a postal application. NS&I publish six monthly total complaint data on nsandi.com.

National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what value of pensioner bonds have been sold to applicants from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many applications for 65-plus Guaranteed Growth Bonds requested the full allowances of (a) £10,000 per bond, (b) £20,000 for both bonds and (c) £40,000 for combined holders.

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many and what value of 65-plus Guaranteed Growth Bonds have been sold to applicants from (a) Northern Ireland, (b) Scotland, (c) Wales and (d) England.

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the average value was of 65-plus Guaranteed Growth Bonds issued to applicants for (a) 1-year and (b) 3-year bonds; and how many applicants applied for both of those bonds.

Andrea Leadsom: The 65+ “Pensioner” Bond launch has had the biggest opening sales of any retail financial product in Britain’s modern history.   Detailed figures on different aspects of the sale cannot reliably be given for a bond which is still on sale, and this is particularly the case for an issuance of this size.

National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

Sammy Wilson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what the total value was of the pensioner bonds that were issued in the recent sale of those assets.

Andrea Leadsom: The 65+ Bond remains on sale, and NS&I are taking thousands of transactions every day. The Government made £10bn worth of the bond available. This policy was a huge success - £1,150m of these bonds were sold in the first two days, to over 110,000 pensioners. The information on how many bonds were sold in the 2014/15 year will be made available in NS&I’s annual report.

Offshore Industry: Taxation

Alex Cunningham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his policy is on using the tax system to incentivise (a) job sharing, (b) maintenance backlog work, (c) drilling work and (d) skills training in the offshore oil and gas industry during the current period of low oil prices.

Priti Patel: The government is committed to this important industrial sector and to maximise the economic benefits of our oil and gas resources in accordance with Sir Ian Woods recommendations in his final report on maximising recovery on the UK Continental Shelf.   With between 11 and 21 billion barrels of oil equivalent still to be exploited, the UK Continental Shelf can continue to provide considerable economic benefits to the UK through increased energy security and further development of the UK’s strong and export-focussed supply chain, as well as the jobs which the industry both provides and supports.   We understand the challenges currently facing the UK oil and gas industry following the steep fall in oil prices and are following developments in the North Sea closely.   We have been proactive in our response to the weakening oil price. In December, the government announced an ambitious programme of reform across the oil and gas tax regime, including the introduction of a new single investment allowance to support investment on the UKCS and an immediate cut to the rate of the Supplementary Charge, which is already in effect.   The Investment Allowance was identified by the industry as their number one priority and would incentivise drilling work, a formal consultation on this measure is underway.   Although these fiscal measures will encourage activity and protect jobs, our response has not been limited to the use of the tax system. The Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, the Rt Hon Edward Davey MP, has tasked Andy Samuel, the CEO of the newly formed OGA, to lead an urgent commission, working with industry to identify what further measures might be taken by the government and industry. The report outlining the conclusions of this work shall be presented by the end of February.   Additionally, the BIS led joint oil and gas Industrial Strategy outlines key considerations regarding training and maintaining talent within the industry, to sustain and promote growth within the supply chain.

Self-assessment: Taxation

Jim Shannon: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what steps HM Revenue and Customs has taken to encourage people to complete their tax returns by 31 January.

Mr David Gauke: The 31 January deadline for online filing of tax returns is well known among Self Assessment (SA) filers, more than two-thirds of whom are represented by agents. For the past three years, more than 90% of customers filed on time.   HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) uses a mixture of direct reminders and a multimedia proactive publicity campaign to raise awareness and encourage people to pay and file on time.

Pensions: Advisory Services

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many trained staff delivering (a) face-to-face and (b) telephone guidance through the Government's Pension Wise scheme will be based in (i) England, (ii) Wales and (iii) Scotland.

Cathy Jamieson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many Citizens Advice Scotland offices in Scotland will deliver pension guidance through the Government's Pension Wise scheme.

Andrea Leadsom: Around 300 trained guidance specialists will be working to deliver the Pension Wise service face-to-face and over the phone across the UK.   Pension Wise telephone sessions will be delivered by the Pensions Advisory Service, based at its headquarters in London. Face to face sessions will be offered in selected Citizens Advice bureaux across the United Kingdom with the aim of providing good geographic coverage and ensuring the service is accessible across the UK.   HMT is working with Citizens Advice Scotland and Citizens Advice Bureau Northern Ireland to finalise the number and location of Citizens Advice offices in Scotland and Northern Ireland which will be providing coverage for the Pension Wise service.

Employment Agencies

Bill Esterson: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many staff in his Department were employed through employment or recruitment agencies in each year since 2010-11.

Andrea Leadsom: This request can not be answered on this occasion, as the information could only be provided at a disproportionate cost.

National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what his Department plans to happen to the ownership of the 65-plus Guaranteed Growth Bonds in the event of a bondholder's death.

Andrea Leadsom: As set out in the NS&I 65+ Guaranteed Growth Bonds digital brochure, 65+ Bonds can be cashed in without penalty after the death of a sole, or last surviving Bond holder. Generally, consent will be given to transfers in the case of inheritance (although the recipient must be aged 65 of over to hold the bond) but will not give consent to any transfer which is by way of sale.

National Savings Bonds: Pensioners

Pamela Nash: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, how many higher-rate and additional rate taxpayer purchasers of 65-plus Guarantee Growth Bonds have declared the interest payable on these bonds to HM Revenue and Customs.

Mr David Gauke: The data requested is not available. No interest has yet been paid on any 65+ Guaranteed Growth Bond.

VAT

Andrew Bingham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what estimate he has made of the cost to the public purse of businesses invoicing VAT on goods and services discounted for early payment in cases when the discount is not subsequently applied.

Mr David Gauke: The introduction of this measure will protect over £250 million pounds of tax revenue per annum.

VAT

Andrew Bingham: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, if he will make an estimate of the cost to businesses of the requirement to double invoice VAT on goods and services which have been discounted for early payment.

Mr David Gauke: There is no requirement to double invoice.

Bank Services

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask Mr Chancellor of the Exchequer, what recent assessment he has made of (a) levels of bank account switching by customers, (b) trends in bank account switching in the last three years, (c) the average time it takes for customers to switch banks and (d) the process for switching banks and customers' perceptions of the ease or difficulty of so doing.

Andrea Leadsom: The Government charged the UK banking industry with delivering a new Current Account Switch Service to make it simpler, safer, and faster to switch current account providers. The new service launched in September 2013, and so far has had a positive impact with switching levels increasing by 22 per cent in its first year, compared to the previous year.   The Payments Council publish a “switching dashboard” quarterly, which is available on their website and includes information on awareness, confidence, service performance, and switching levels.

Department for Energy and Climate Change

Liquefied Petroleum Gas

Mr Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will take steps to ensure that the recent oil price reduction will lead to a reduction in the price of liquefied petroleum gas in rural areas.

Matthew Hancock: We have made it clear to the liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) industry that it is vital that the benefits of falling oil prices are passed on quickly to consumers.We have an open market for LPG in the UK as we believe this provides the best long term guarantee of competitive prices. The LPG market is subject to UK competition and consumer protection law under the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA).The CMA continues to keep under review the Domestic Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas Market Investigation Order 2008 and the Domestic Bulk Liquefied Petroleum Gas Market Investigation (Metered Estates) Order 2009, intended to help consumers to compare quotes and switch supplier.Domestic bulk LPG suppliers remain subject to the CC Orders and the Competition and Markets Authority will continue to keep the effect of the CC Orders under review.

Natural Gas: Prices

Richard Benyon: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what discussions his Department has had with Ofgem to ensure that reductions in the wholesale price of gas are passed on to consumers.

Matthew Hancock: Ministers and officials from the Department meet with Ofgem on a regular basis to discuss a range of issues relating to the gas and electricity markets.

Housing: Insulation

Dan Jarvis: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the number of houses that have been insulated in each year since May 2010.

Amber Rudd: Holding answer received on 02 February 2015



The table below shows the number of retro-fit installations of cavity wall insulation, loft insulation and solid wall insulation through Government schemes since the beginning of April 2010. It does not cover measures installed outside of Government schemes or as part of the construction of the property. Figures covering installations up to the end of December 2014 will be published on 19 March 2015. Table 1: Installations of cavity wall, loft and solid wall insulation through Government schemes in Great Britain, by year, 1 April 2010 to 30 September 2014   Thousands Cavity wall insulationLoft insulationSolid wall insulationApril 2010 to March 20114709808April 2011 to March 20125201,13030April 2012 to March 20134801,29073April 2013 to March 201426013052April 2014 to September 2014604021Total1,8003,560183Source: Green Deal, Energy Company Obligation (ECO) and Insulation Levels in Great Britain, Quarterly Report: to September 2014. Cavity wall and loft insulation figures rounded to nearest ten thousand.

Advertising

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his Department's advertising budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Amber Rudd: The Department’s advertising and marketing budgets for each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 are shown in the table below:  2010-11 (£K)2011-12(£K)2012-13(£K)2013-14(£K)2014-15(£K)Advertising budget 3,500 - 200 4,200 400

Communication

Mr Kevan Jones: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what his Department's communications budget was in each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15.

Amber Rudd: The Department’s communications budgets for each financial year from 2010-11 to 2014-15 are shown in the table below:  2010-11(£K)2011-12(£K)2012-13(£K)2013-14(£K)2014-15(£K)Communications budget 5,500 4,200 3,400 3,700 4,000 The figures above are the total budgets of the Department’s communications directorate, excluding any marketing and advertising costs.

Natural Gas: Consumption

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what the level of gas consumption by (a) consumers and (b) all gas users was in each month of 2014.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Electricity: Consumption

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, when he plans to publish an update to the sub-national total final electricity consumption statistics.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Energy: Prices

Tom Greatrex: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, what estimate he has made of the average cost to domestic consumers per GWh of (a) gas and (b) electricity in each month of 2014.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Offshore Industry

Alex Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for Energy and Climate Change, if he will make it his policy to include trade unions representing the offshore workforce in the North Sea Taskforce to be led by the Oil and Gas Authority.

Matthew Hancock: The Department for Energy and Climate Change has indicated that it will not be possible to answer this question within the usual time period. An answer is being prepared and will be provided as soon as it is available.

Cabinet Office

Harassment

Gordon Henderson: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many reports of harassment have been recorded by police forces in England and Wales in (a) 2010-11, (b) 2011-12, (c) 2012-13 and (d) 2013-14.

Mr Rob Wilson: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the UK Statistics Authority. I have asked the Authority to reply. 



ONS Letter to Member - Reports of Harassment
(PDF Document, 110.55 KB)

ICT

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how many (a) desktop computers, (b) laptops and (c) tablet devices there are for each person in his Department.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, what the value is of his Department's ICT contracts; and when each such contract is due to end.

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, how much his Department has spent on ICT (a) in total; and (b) on average for each person in his Department per person in each year since 2010-11.

Mr Francis Maude: I have a simple aspiration - that civil servants should have access at work to equipment which as least as good as that which they have at home. The Cabinet Office has a range of contracts covering provision of services, equipment, and software licenses and these contracts vary in duration. The major legacy contract for the provision of ICT equipment which we inherited from the previous Government expired last month. We are replacing it with a system designed around the needs of our users and this will save an estimated 40% of the costs to taxpayers, while providing better equipment. Cabinet Office staff are normally provided with a computer - usually a laptop. Tablets are provided on the basis of business needs. Details on spend on ICT can be found in the department’s published accounts; the most recent published figures are for 2013-14 at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/cabinet-office-annual-report-and-accounts-2013-to-2014.

World Economic Forum

Andrew Gwynne: To ask the Minister for the Cabinet Office, which government Ministers attended the World Economic Forum in 2015; and what the cost to the public purse was of each such attendance.

Mr Francis Maude: Details of Ministerial overseas travel are published quarterly and can be found at Gov.uk.

Department for Culture Media and Sport

Broadband: Cumbria

Mr Jamie Reed: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, when he expects Phase 2 of Connecting Cumbria to be complete; and what estimate he has made of how many premises in Copeland will receive high speed broadband in that phase.

Mr Edward Vaizey: Connecting Cumbria has not yet begun the contracting process for a phase 2 superfast broadband project. The government expects the contracting to be complete by June 2015. The coverage and timescale for delivery from this contract will be dependent on the outcome of the procurement process.

Deputy Prime Minister

Electoral Register

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what estimate he has made of the number of people on the electoral roll (a) before and (b) after the switch to individual electoral registration.

Mr Sam Gyimah: We are only mid-way through the transition to Individual Electoral Registration and so the current electoral registers offer only a partial snapshot of the registration landscape. Electoral statistics based on the last electoral registers published under the previous system are available on the Office for National Statistics (ONS) website: http://www.ons.gov.uk/ons/rel/pop-estimate/electoral-statistics-for-uk/2013/stb---2013-electoral-statistics.htmlONS plans to publish statistics for England and Wales on 26 February based on the registers as at 1 December 2014 and on 16 April for the Scottish registers as at 2 March 2015.

Electoral Register: Coventry

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what steps the Government is taking to increase voter registration in Coventry following the switch to individual electoral registration.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Government is investing over £14 million between financial years 2013/14 and 2014/15 to support the costs of activities aimed at increasing the completeness and accuracy of the register.Over £10.5 million of this funding is being shared across every Electoral Registration Officer in Great Britain with Coventry City Council receiving a total of £70,000. Coventry City Council has also been allocated over £140,000 resource funding to support the transition to Individual Electoral Registration.In addition, on-line registration makes registering to vote more accessible than ever before.

Electoral Register

Mr Jim Cunningham: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister, what funding the Government has provided to increase student voter registration following the switch to individual electoral registration.

Mr Sam Gyimah: The Cabinet Office has been running a student forum since early 2013 which brings together organisations that represent universities and students to agree and evaluate best practice to register students.In addition the Government has recently announced £9.8 million to be used to maximise registration rates. Part of this allocation will go to organisations that can support activities to register currently under registered groups including students. £6.8 million will go to Electoral Registration Officers to support their activities to register their key groups such as students. This is in addition to the previous allocation of £4.2 million which has, in part, been spent on increasing the rate of student registrations.

Department of Health

Mental Health Services

Luciana Berger: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, pursuant to the Answer to Question 219055, which areas are piloting enhanced access to mental health practitioners.

Dr Daniel Poulter: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 09 January 2015.The correct answer should have been:

All NHS 111 areas receive mental health calls and use algorithms within NHS Pathways to enable assessment; receiving additional support from nurses as required.   There are four six areas that are piloting enhanced access to mental health practitioners, either within the NHS 111 call centre or by transferring to teams outside. NHS England is in the process of finalising which locations will take forward the NHS 111 pilot areas and NHS England will make an announcement when this process has been completed.

Dr Daniel Poulter: All NHS 111 areas receive mental health calls and use algorithms within NHS Pathways to enable assessment; receiving additional support from nurses as required.   There are four six areas that are piloting enhanced access to mental health practitioners, either within the NHS 111 call centre or by transferring to teams outside. NHS England is in the process of finalising which locations will take forward the NHS 111 pilot areas and NHS England will make an announcement when this process has been completed.

Defibrillators

Karen Lumley: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what assessment his Department has made of the confidence of the general public in using an automated external defibrillator in an emergency.

Jane Ellison: The Cardiovascular Disease Outcomes Strategy, published by the Department of Health in March 2013, identified the need for improved training of the public in basic resuscitation skills and use of automatic external defibrillators (AEDs). Professor Huon Gray, the National Clinical Director for heart disease in NHS England, has been working with the Resuscitation Council UK (RCUK), the British Heart Foundation (BHF), Public Health England, and Ambulance Services on how to improve local knowledge and information about the locations of AEDs and break down resistance to their use amongst the public out of misguided fear of facing personal or corporate liabilities.   Also, in guidance that the Department for Education has recently issued to schools about children with medical conditions, it has encouraged the teaching of resuscitation skills and purchase of defibrillators. This has been supported by NHS England, the Department of Health, the BHF and RCUK. The guidance can be found at:   https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/supporting-pupils-at-school-with-medical-conditions--3

Health Visitors: Pendle

Andrew Stephenson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many health visitors were employed in Pendle constituency in each year since 2009.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Information is not available in the format requested.   However, the most recent (December 2014) management information* estimates an indicative count of 11,310 full time equivalent (FTE) health visitors: some 3,218 more than the May 2010 baseline, representing an increase of 40% in the workforce.   * Published January 2015 by NHS England   Table: The number of qualified health visitors by specified organisation as at 30 September in each specified year.  Full-time equivalent 20092010201120122013 Sept 2014Central Lancashire Primary Care Trust (PCT)707068.... ..East Lancashire Teaching Primary Care Trust767582.... ..Blackburn with Darwen Teaching Care Trust Plus423739.... ..East Lancashire Hospitals NHS Trust22221 -Lancashire Care NHS Foundation Trust......216213 236Total190184191218214 236   Source:  Health and Social Care Information Centre, NHS Hospital & Community Health Service (HCHS) Non-Medical Workforce Census and provisional monthly workforce statistics   Notes: 1. '-' denotes zero 2. '..' denotes not applicable 3. 2009 to 2013 data is taken from the Non-Medical Workforce Census as at 30 September in each specified year. 4. 2014 data is taken from the provisional monthly workforce statistics as at 30 September in the specified year. 5. Parliamentary constituencies do not correspond directly to any recognised health geographies, so data is provided for organisations relevant to the area requested. 6. The changes in Health Visitor figures in individual organisations over the period of this request is likely due to moves in service provider from PCTs to neighbouring Trusts as part of Transforming Community Services (TCS). In addition, some functions and associated people may have moved to non-NHS bodies following the April 2013 reorganisation of the NHS, which may impact the figures. 7. These statistics relate to the contracted positions within English NHS organisations and may include those where the person assigned to the position is temporarily absent, for example on maternity leave. 8. Organisations are displayed alongside their latest name held in reference data 9. FTE figures are rounded to the nearest whole number. 10. As from 21st July 2010 the Health and Social Care Information Centre has published provisional monthly NHS workforce data. As expected with provisional statistics, some figures may be revised from month to month as issues are uncovered and resolved. The monthly workforce data is not directly comparable with the annual workforce census; it only includes those staff on the Electronic Staff Record (ESR) (i.e. it does not include Primary care staff or Bank staff). There are also new methods of presenting data (headcount methodology is different and there is now a role count). This information is available from September 2009 onwards at the following website: www.hscic.gov.uk 11. The Health and Social Care Information Centre seeks to minimise inaccuracies and the effect of missing and invalid data but responsibility for data accuracy lies with the organisations providing the data. Methods are continually being updated to improve data quality. Where changes impact on figures already published, this is assessed but unless it is significant at national level figures are not changed.

Dementia: Hay Fever

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what recent discussions he has had with the Royal Colleges about links between hayfever and dementia.

Norman Lamb: Improving the treatment and care of people with dementia, reducing the incidence of dementia and improving dementia research, is a key priority for the Government.   My Rt. hon. Friend the Secretary of State has had and continues to have numerous meetings with various stakeholders including Royal Colleges in which numerous topics are discussed.

Digestive System: Diseases

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to reduce misdiagnosis of irritable bowel syndrome and bowel cancer.

Jane Ellison: Irritable bowel syndrome in adults: Diagnosis and management of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) in primary care, published by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) in 2008, sets out best practice on the diagnosis treatment and support of patients with IBS. IBS can cause similar symptoms to bowel cancer, and the guidance makes clear the importance of assessing the patient for certain ‘red flag’ symptoms which could indicate bowel cancer, such as unexplained weight loss, rectal bleeding or a change in bowel habit to looser and/or more frequent stools. Patients with any of these symptoms should be referred to secondary care for investigation.   Similarly, the NICE guidance, Referral Guidelines for suspected cancer, published in 2005, also highlights the ‘red flag’ symptoms for bowel cancer and recommends appropriate referral for patients presenting with such symptoms.   Together, the NICE guidelines support clinicians to manage patients with either IBS or suspected cancer appropriately. Both the IBS and referral guidance are in the process of being updated, with revised publications expected for issue in March and May 2015 respectively.

In Vitro Fertilisation

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he has taken to ensure that IVF treatment is monitored to prevent genetic defects.

Jane Ellison: The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority (HFEA) has advised that in vitro fertilisation treatment in the United Kingdom has been tightly regulated since 1991 with the establishment of the HFEA. The regulatory scheme ensures that treatment is as safe as possible.

Plastic Surgery: Males

Jim Shannon: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many men have had breast reduction surgery in each of the last five years.

Jane Ellison: This information is not available in the format requested.   The following table provides information concerning the number of finished consultant episodes (FCEs)1 with a main or secondary procedure2 of male breast reduction3, for the years 2009-10 to 2013-144.   YearFCEs2009-10182010-11312011-12492012-13502013-1439 Activity in English NHS Hospitals and English NHS commissioned activity in the independent sector   Notes: 1. A finished consultant episode (FCE) is a continuous period of admitted patient care under one consultant within one healthcare provider. FCEs are counted against the year in which they end. Figures do not represent the number of different patients, as a person may have more than one episode of care within the same stay in hospital or in different stays in the same year. 2. The number of episodes where the procedure (or intervention) was recorded in any of the 24 (12 from 2002-03 to 2006-07 and 4 prior to 2002-03) procedure fields in a Hospital Episode Statistics (HES) record. A record is only included once in each count, even if the procedure is recorded in more than one procedure field of the record. Note that more procedures are carried out than episodes with a main or secondary procedure. 3. The code that has been used to identify breast reduction is ‘reduction mammoplasty’. 4. HES figures are available from 1989-90 onwards. Changes to the figures over time need to be interpreted in the context of improvements in data quality and coverage (particularly in earlier years), improvements in coverage of independent sector activity (particularly from 2006-07) and changes in NHS practice. For example, apparent reductions in activity may be due to a number of procedures which may now be undertaken in outpatient settings and so no longer include in admitted patient HES data. Conversely, apparent increases in activity may be due to improved recording of diagnosis or procedure information. Note that HES include activity ending in the year in question and run from April to March, e.g. 2012-13 includes activity ending between 1 April 2012 and 31 March 2013.   Source: Hospital Episode Statistics, Health and Social Care Information Centre

Meningitis: Vaccination

Geoffrey Clifton-Brown: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will provide an update of his Department's negotiations with Novartis on finding a cost-effective price for the Bexsero vaccine; and if he will make a statement.

Jane Ellison: The Department is continuing negotiations with the manufacturer to seek supply of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero® at a cost effective price as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation. These negotiations will be completed as soon as practicable.

Nurses: Temporary Employment

Mr George Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, for each hospital trust in England, what the number of nurse shifts covered by bank or agency nurses were in each quarter since 2010; what the average cost was per shift of utilising the services of such bank or agency nurses; and how many nurse vacancies there were in each nursing grade in each quarter.

Dr Daniel Poulter: The information requested is not held centrally.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the declarations of interest submitted by members of the expert group with responsibilty for updating the UK guidelines on clinical management of drugs mususe and dependence.

Jane Ellison: The expert group updating the United Kingdom guidelines for the clinical management of drug misuse and dependence consists of a broad spectrum of stakeholders, including practising clinicians, pharmacists, service users, carers, psychologists, commissioners and academics. Each is required to complete a declaration of interests and keep this updated.   Public Health England, which provides the secretariat for the group, has reviewed these declarations and on the basis of the information provided believes that no expert group members have a financial interest in the prescribing of specific medicines for the treatment of dependence.   Clinicians’ declarations will be published alongside the updated clinical guidelines by early 2016.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to reduce addiction to prescribed benzodiazepines and z drugs.

Jane Ellison: Public Health England (PHE), NHS England and others are working together to deliver a wide-ranging programme of work to reduce addiction to medicines. This includes completed work such as publishing a guide to commissioning services to respond to addiction to medicines, factsheets for general practitioners (GPs) (Royal College of General Practitioners) and delivering face-to-face training for GPs and other healthcare workers. Looking ahead, PHE is supporting a number of pilots of improved local commissioning.   There is now better awareness of these issues among GPs and clearer prescribing guidelines.

Tranquillisers: Misuse

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if his Department will make an assessment of the implications for its policies of the survey of treatment services provided by local authorities for involuntary tranquilliser addicts conducted by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction.

Jane Ellison: The Department has taken into account the All Party Parliamentary Group on Involuntary Tranquilliser Addiction’s survey in its deliberations in this policy area.

Prescription Drugs: Misuse

Liz McInnes: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps he plans to take to ensure that patients prescribed benzodiazepines and z drugs are provided with recent Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority advice on those drugs' addiction potential and the time taken to withdraw safely from taking such drugs.

George Freeman: The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not recently issued any new advice on the addiction potential or the safe withdrawal from benzodiazepines or “z drugs”.   Benzodiazepines and “z drugs” (zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone) are recognised to be associated with an addiction potential particularly when taken for longer than the recommended 2-4 weeks. Over the years action has been taken by the MHRA, the Department of Health and professional bodies to provide extensive warnings about the risks of dependence, limit prescribing and issue advice about gradual withdrawal.   The risk of dependence on a benzodiazepine (or zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone) can increase with higher doses and longer duration of use; therefore, the time it takes to completely stop the medicine varies and withdrawal programmes may sometimes need to be individually tailored.   Patients receive a patient information leaflet in their pack of benzodiazepine (or zaleplon, zolpidem and zopiclone). The leaflet includes information and advice about their medicine, which will support the vital discussions they have with their doctor and pharmacist about their treatment or stopping treatment.   Benzodiazepines and “z drugs” are considered acceptably safe and effective when used in accordance with the approved indications and for the recommended duration of use.   An online learning module for healthcare professionals on benzodiazepines was published on the MHRA’s website in March 2013. The module’s section on dependence and withdrawal gives general guidance on the principles of benzodiazepine withdrawal. The online learning module reflects the product information for these medicines.

Medicine: Graduates

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to ensure that medical graduates find employment within the UK.

Dr Daniel Poulter: Suitably qualified medical graduates are able to apply for employment as a doctor in the United Kingdom through the UK Foundation Programme Office. The Foundation Programme is a two-year generic training programme which forms the bridge between medical school and specialist/general practice training. For 2015, Health Education England (HEE) has committed to funding additional positions to ensure all suitably qualified graduates of English medical schools are able to obtain a foundation programme place in England.   Health is a devolved matter and as such the devolved administrations are responsible for workforce planning in their respective countries and deciding whether to commit to funding foundation programme places for all graduates from their medical schools.   In 2013, HEE designed and implemented the first ever comprehensive England wide workforce planning process, covering all medical and non-medical professions. This process is now undertaken annually as part of HEE’s core business to support the delivery of its Mandate from the Government. Comprehensive workforce planning aims to ensure there is a balance between the number of undergraduate places commissioned and the number of doctors required to deliver NHS services in England.

Tobacco: Packaging

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will publish the UK Government's response to the detailed opinions issued by EU Member States to the UK's Notification of the draft Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Product Regulations.

Jane Ellison: The Government currently has no plans to publish its response to the detailed opinions issued by European Union member states to the notification of the draft regulations for Standardised Packaging of Tobacco Products.   The notification and information about which member states responded can be found at:   http://ec.europa.eu/enterprise/tris/en/search/?trisaction=search.detail&year=2014&num=427

Tobacco: Packaging

Philip Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he plans to publish the consultation report and accompanying regulatory impact assessment on standardised packaging for tobacco products.

Jane Ellison: A summary of the consultation and an impact assessment on standardised packaging for tobacco products will be published in due course.

Artificial Sweeteners

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, if he will take steps to reduce the importation and use of artificial sweeteners.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advises that controls on imports of sweeteners into the United Kingdom are not necessary as European Union legislation already controls their use in food.   All food additives, including sweeteners, are only permitted after a safety evaluation and the legislation sets out the foods in which the sweeteners can be used and their conditions of use. Sweeteners are allowed to be used for a number of purposes including in the preparation of sugar free and energy reduced foods.

Horse Meat

Sir Greg Knight: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, how many prosecutions have taken place in the UK as a result of horsemeat being sold as beef in the last five years.

Jane Ellison: The Food Standards Agency advise that no prosecutions have taken place in the United Kingdom as a result of horsemeat being sold as beef in the last five years. Investigations and prosecutions are on-going in a number of related cases.

NHS: Standards

Mr Dominic Raab: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what his assessment is of the contribution made by (a) the Care Quality Commission and (b) Monitor to (i) safeguarding and (ii) raising standards in healthcare.

Norman Lamb: The Care Quality Commission (CQC) is the independent regulator of health and adult social care providers in England and has a key responsibility in the overall assurance of safety and quality of health and adult social care services.   The CQC has provided the following information about its contribution to safeguarding:   The CQC receives information that may relate to safeguarding from various sources, both professional and public. All concerns are relayed through the CQC’s National Customer Service Centre. The specialist team triage the information to identify whether this is information already known to a local authority or not, and if not CQC ensure an alert is made. All information relating to safeguarding concerns or alerts involving regulated services are sent directly to the appropriate inspection teams. Where the information indicates a serious concern, an unannounced inspection would be triggered. Depending on the outcome of that inspection, enforcement action could be taken against the provider.   The CQC also use safeguarding information it collects to inform key publications. In the State of Care 2013-14 Report, the CQC used the information it holds on safety and safeguarding to highlight poor practice and signal where improvement is required from each of the sectors the CQC regulates.   Monitor is the sector regulator for health services in England and its main duty is to protect and promote the interests of patients. Monitor is responsible for promoting the provision of health care services which is effective, efficient and which maintains or improves the quality of services.   Monitor is also responsible for ensuring that foundation trusts (FTs) are run well so they can continue delivering good quality services for patients. To do this they work closely with the CQC, the quality and safety regulator. When the CQC establishes that an FT is failing to provide good quality care, Monitor can take action to address the problem.   The licencing regime, introduced in the Health and Social Care Act is Monitor’s main tool for regulating providers of NHS services (unless exempt under section 83 of the Health and Social Care Act 2012) and gives it a means to carry out its responsibilities as sector regulator.   FTs are expected to carry out external reviews of their governance every three years. Monitor provides guidance on this and sets out that the provision of safe, high quality, compassionate care should be a top priority for all FTs.   FTs must also have regard to the NHS Constitution and, as autonomous organisations, are expected to adhere to regulations required of them by government.   Monitor also meet with Ministers at the Department of Health on a quarterly basis to assess all aspects of their performance.

Cancer: Drugs

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether further discussions are planned between NHS England and the pharmaceutical industry before drugs are removed from the Cancer Drugs Fund list on 12 March 2015.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that A Cancer Drugs Fund Working Party has been established to review the future sustainability of the Fund and funding cancer drugs in general. The pharmaceutical industry is represented on this group.   The removal of cancer drugs from the national Cancer Drugs Fund list is subject to a written review/complaint procedure and NHS England anticipates that a number of applications will be made under those processes.

Breast Cancer: Drugs

Annette Brooke: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what estimate he has made of the number of breast cancer patients who will be affected by the removal of (a) eribulin, (b) lapatinib, and (c) everolimus from the Cancer Drugs Fund list on 12 March 2015.

George Freeman: NHS England has advised that all patients currently being treated with eribulin, lapatinib or everolimus through the Cancer Drugs Fund (CDF) will continue with their treatment. Furthermore, clinicians will continue to be able to apply for individual patients to receive these drugs on an exceptional basis.   Based on current applications received for these drugs, NHS England estimates that, on an annual basis, 1,730 patients treated with these drugs will be affected.   NHS England has also advised that there are alternatives available for all these drugs within either baseline commissioning or the CDF. The purpose of NHS England’s recent review is to ensure that the very latest drugs are available to patients. The CDF has already helped over 60,000 patients.

Meningitis: Vaccination

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when he expects the Meningitis B vaccine to be made available on the NHS.

Jane Ellison: The Department is continuing negotiations with the manufacturer to seek supply of the meningococcal B vaccine, Bexsero® at a cost-effective price as recommended by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Imunisation. These negotiations will be completed as quickly as practicable.

Cancer: Drugs

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what quantity of the cancer drug Immucyst to be used in bacillus Calmette-Guérin cancer treatment have been obtained by the NHS; and when it was received.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what criteria his Department has set for the distribution of limited doses of the cancer drug ImmuCyst to be used in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cancer treatment.

Ian Austin: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what steps his Department is taking to establish the safety of unlicensed versions of the cancer drug ImmuCyst being used in Bacillus Calmette-Guerin cancer treatment.

George Freeman: The supplier of ImmuCyst (Bacillus Calmette-Guerin (BCG) bladder instillation), Alliance Pharmaceuticals, has experienced manufacturing problems which have affected its supply on a worldwide basis. The product has been unavailable globally since summer 2012 but supplies are expected to be available in the summer of 2015.   The Department and the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) are working closely with Alliance Pharmaceuticals and the supplier of alternative BCG bladder instillations to help ensure that supplies are available for United Kingdom patients.   Importers of unlicensed medicines are required to notify the MHRA of their intention to do so. The MHRA will object to importation of a product if there are any known prohibitive safety or quality issues. Under medicines legislation, doctors can prescribe unlicensed products for their patients if they think it appropriate, but do so entirely on their own responsibility, and are fully accountable for prescribing the medicine and for their patient’s welfare, and must allow patients to make an informed decision.

Health Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether joint committees of NHS England and clinical commissioning groups are permitted to deviate from national service specifications for specialised services.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 February 2015.The correct answer should have been:

NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Jane Ellison: NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Health Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, when NHS England will publish details of the co-commissioning of specialised services.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 February 2015.The correct answer should have been:

NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Jane Ellison: NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Health Services

Valerie Vaz: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, whether NHS England will remain the sole budget-holder and accountable commissioner for all specialised services.

Jane Ellison: An error has been identified in the written answer given on 03 February 2015.The correct answer should have been:

NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Jane Ellison: NHS England is the accountable commissioner and budget holder for all specialised services as set out in The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012, with the Manual for prescribed specialised services providing further detail.   NHS England has achieved significant progress in developing a set of nationally consistent service standards and commissioning policies, which ensure equity of access to high quality services across the board. Those standards and policies will continue to apply for those specialised services which are to be collaboratively commissioned by NHS England and clinical commissioning groups.   NHS England is currently in the process of agreeing the guidance on the collaborative commissioning arrangements which will be in place from 1 April 2015.   NHS England has clarified that where there are collaboratively commissioned services, NHS England will retain the full financial risk for these services for 2015/16. NHS England has advised us that there will be further work conducted over the next year to advise on the range of specialised services for which NHS England should remain the accountable commissioner and budget holder for 2016/17 and future years.   Copies of The National Health Service Commissioning Board and Clinical Commissioning Groups (Responsibilities and Standing Rules) Regulations 2012 and the Manual for prescribed specialised services are attached. 



Regulations NHS Commissioning Board & CCGs
(PDF Document, 258.21 KB)




Manual prescribed specialised services
(PDF Document, 1.53 MB)

Meningitis: Vaccination

Mr Gerry Sutcliffe: To ask the Secretary of State for Health, what progress his Department has made in price negotiations with the manufacturer of the meningitis B vaccine.

Jane Ellison: I refer the hon. Member to the answer I gave on 5 January 2015 to Question 219778.

Women and Equalities

Employment Agencies

Lucy Powell: To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, how many recruitment and employment agencies the Government Equalities Office has used to source staff in each year since 2010-11.

Jo Swinson: YearNumber of recruitment and employment agencies used2012-1312013-1412014-date1  GEO joined DCMS from Home Office following a machinery of government change, no information is held prior to September 2012.